6 Powerful Prayers for the Birth of a Child
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Not much compares to the birth of a child, from the wonder of conception to the actual birth of a living, breathing human. Whether you are a parent or have been around babies as a doting relative, friend, or church member, witnessing a child emerge into the world is truly a beautiful thing.
Jesus also loved children, knowing they were just as adored and treasured in God’s eyes as adults. “But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 19:14).
When a child is born, as followers of Christ, we should shower prayers over the little one for not only being part of our lives, but in preparation for their journey and purpose in God’s plan. Our prayers are the means of defense against what the enemy might throw at these children, for 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
So, as protectors of all children in this world, let us equip ourselves with these six prayers, supported by Scripture. Speak these over the recent birth of a child, believing these prayers will defend our children against evil while drawing them closer to God.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Tim Bish
1. Prayer for the Lord’s Heritage of Children
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3).
Heavenly Father,
We lift up our children to You, knowing they are a heritage of Yours, a blessing from You. Lord, we realize that having children is a reward from You, not because of what we did or didn’t do, but because You ordain the path set before us in the way of children. We pray that we recognize how special children are to You, especially with this new baby. Never let us forget the blessing You have given us.
In Jesus’s name,
Amen.
2. Prayer for Children to Be the Glory of Their Family
“Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father” (Proverbs 17:6).
Father God,
We come before You thankful for the knowledge that children are like a crown in our lives, the glory of their parents. To become parents is an honor, and we know that not all are called by You to be parents, but those who are should be grateful for the opportunity to glorify You through raising children. With this new little one, we ask that he or she is the crown of their parents and family, honoring You and their family in all they do.
In Jesus’s precious name, we pray,
Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Mongkolchon Akesin
3. Prayer to Be Patient with Our Children
“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21).
Lord God,
We ask that as we parent these new little blessings, we don’t challenge or provoke our children in unhealthy ways. We pray we don’t put unrealistic expectations on our children to where they are discouraged and believe they will never make us proud or happy. Just as You have patience with us and believe in us when we make mistakes, we pray that we would bestow the same on these children, knowing they will feel encouraged and loved by us.
In Jesus’s name,
Amen.
4. Prayer to Lead Children in the Way They Should Go
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
Heavenly Father,
We come before You asking for wisdom and guidance in knowing how to train up our new child in Your way. We understand what is shared in Proverbs 22, that if we train a child in the way they should go, they will not leave it. So we ask You to help us in that training. We want to show our children the godly way to live, with their focus on You and following Your plan for them daily. We also ask you to guide to train our child so that they continue following you into adulthood.
In Jesus’s name, I pray,
Amen.
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5. Prayer to Not Fear God but Trust His Plan
“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it” (Mark 10:14-15).
Lord God,
We come before You requesting that as we celebrate the arrival of this new little baby into our lives, we recognize that the world will do what it can to encourage this child to doubt God’s love and guidance. The world wants to present Jesus as just a man and not our Savior, while confusing minds to think that the Holy Spirit is just our own intuition and not from God. Nothing could be further from the truth, so we pray that as we raise this child, we would follow Your lead in encouraging them to not fear You but believe You have everything well in hand. As Jesus wanted the disciples to allow children to come to Him without fear, we should encourage the same in our children as well.
We ask this in Jesus’s name,
Amen.
6. Prayer That the Child Will Have a Personal Relationship with the Lord
“Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (Matthew 18:2-5).
Our beloved Father God,
We ask that our child would come to know You in a personal way, as a loving God and father who cares about where they are going and believes in them when they don’t believe in themselves. We pray that the birth of this little child brings people to know You personally, especially as we all play a part in guiding this child to You and developing a long-lasting relationship through salvation, redemption, and love. I also pray that we all look to You in childlike wonder, as this child will, amazed by the blessings You have poured out and humbled by the unconditional love You continue to give. Thank you for sending Your Son to be an example of love to us, and may our children come to know this truth as we have.
In Jesus’s name, we pray,
Amen.
The birth of a child is a momentous celebration, not only for the parents and those close to the child, but also those in heaven who know the ways God could be glorified and His love shared with others through this little life. Through these six prayers, let us reconnect with God through the arrival of this little life, going back to Him as children of faith as we raise our own children to know and love God as we do.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Bohdan Bevz
