The Assignment of a Lifetime: Praying for Your Child

By Shonnell Artis

Praying for your child is, and will always be, one of the biggest and most important assignments you’ll ever have. It’s also the area where you’ll make the greatest impact in your child’s life—starting from the very beginning. Every moment matters, from praying your way through pregnancy to the moment they’re in your arms and beyond.

One of the first things I did—even before my son was born—was surrender any ideas I had about parenting. That included what I learned from my own parents and even what I saw on television. I also made the decision to dedicate my son

back to God.

Yes, privately—just me, him, and God. I had a personal moment with the Lord and said, “Father God, I know You’ve given me this child, but I now give him back to You.” I was around six months pregnant at the time. It was my way of showing God that I understood the weight of the responsibility He was giving me and that I wouldn’t take it lightly. But more than that, it was me acknowledging that I couldn’t do it without Him. We must be willing to make it plain to God that we need His help in this journey we call parenting. I believe that moment of surrender and acknowledgment became the foundation for every prayer I’ve prayed for my son since then.

I’ve learned that studying the Word for myself—something I highly encourage—especially on topics like parenting, wisdom, protection, guidance, and deliverance, helps expand your ability to pray. Over time, it makes your prayers deeper and more thorough. One scripture that laid a strong foundation for the prayers I’ve prayed, and continue to pray, is:

Proverbs 22:6 (AMP): Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

This scripture helped me see that parenting, at its core, is training. It’s an opportunity to pour out love and truth on the little human God has entrusted to you, while training them in the things of God—not just for their benefit, but for His glory and Kingdom purpose. You’re preparing them as they will have an impact on every person they’ll ever meet. That’s a huge responsibility—and I believe prayer is the only way to truly manage it. Just think your child could one day be the reason someone believes that not only is God is good, but that He came that they may have life and life more abundantly.

Honestly, praying from Scripture makes it so much easier too. You don’t have to make up prayers; they begin to flow naturally from your spirit, especially when led by the Holy Spirit. That’s the key: let the Holy Spirit lead you. When you do, He has the freedom to wake you up at any hour to pray—and believe me, He will. Be ready. It’s always good to have set times to pray, but parenting is 24/7. So, your prayer life needs to match that rhythm.

Another thing I’ve learned is the importance of not only praying for your child but also praying about your child. There is a difference. Praying for them is when you use Scripture to cover them. But praying about them is when you ask God to help you pray in alignment with who they are at that moment, their destiny, and who they are becoming in Him in Him daily. It’s about surrendering to God’s vision for them—not your own. It’s allowing God’s plan to unfold through your personality, which He saw as the perfect fit for their life.

And finally—and I saved this for last on purpose—the most important aspect of praying as a mom is praying for yourself. You have to stay before God’s throne. If you’re not right, they won’t be either. Prayer is your lifeline and theirs. It’s what keeps everything aligned. It’s your connection to the Father. And you have to settle it in your heart that it’s the only way to be the best parent you can be.

One thing Jesus consistently modeled in Scripture was prayer. Not only is it one of the most powerful things you can model for your children, it’s one of the greatest gifts you can give them. Never hesitate to pray—anytime, anywhere, with or for your child. Show them that. Give them that. Teach them to pray as soon as they can talk. You pray, and then let them pray. And as they grow, you’ll begin to see the fruit of your labor—and that none of it was in vain.