10 Bible Verses to Pray Over Your Adult Children

I am the mom of three adult children. Each child has their own strengths and weaknesses. Before they were born, I was committed to pray for each of them. When they became adults, one child struggled more than the others, and I found myself praying more fervently for him. Recently, the Lord convicted me about not praying with the same devotion and intensity for my other two adult children. He was right. My fear, not my faith, was dictating how I prayed for my son and his siblings.

Longing to pray from a position of faith and trust, I asked the Lord to lead me by His Spirit and teach me how to pray for my children. Instead of emotion-driven prayers, I learned how to pray according to His word. In doing so, my prayer life has changed drastically. No longer do I focus solely on my son's problems. Instead, I set my mind on the plans God has for each of my children—His plans for their welfare and for their future. I ask the Lord to give me His eternal vision for their lives so I pray according to His will—not my own.

Do you have adult children you are praying for? Are your prayers fear-based or faith-driven? Do you want to know how to pray effective, fervent prayers over your loved ones? The Bible is filled with scriptures to help us know God’s will when praying for our family. May these 10 Bible verses encourage you as you pray over your adult children.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Why Our Adult Children Need Our Prayers

If you are the parent of an adult child, you know the challenges they are facing each day as they seek to grow in independence and make their way in the world. The struggles today are every bit as challenging as the ones we experienced, and in many ways even harder.

When my children were young, I always joked that I signed up for the 18-year plan. You know the one where we send them off to an out-of-state college after high-school graduation? With my work complete, they would transition into adulthood with great careers and eventually marry wonderful spouses. After a few years of marital bliss, they would gift me with adorable grandchildren to spoil. If only it were that simple.

As I watch my children facing life’s challenges and temptations, I am driven to my knees to pray for them. I pray they will know the Lord and the joy of walking with Him. I pray they won’t be hindered in their calling or believe the self-limiting lies of the enemy. I ask God to help them love Him and others with all their heart. I petition the Lord to guard their health and protect them from danger. My prayer list grows as I watch them grow into adulthood.

What are your prayers for your children? I encourage you to start a prayer journal specifically for your adult children. Write your requests to the Lord, including the Bible verses He places on your heart to pray over them. Return often to note each time the Lord answers your prayer. It will grow your faith as you recall the gift of answered prayer!

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will

not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 ESV

How to Pray for Your Adult Children

While it’s our hope that our children will get out of this world without having to experience too much suffering, the reality is that they will most likely have their fair share of trials to face. As we learn how to pray for our adult children, we should do so with this in mind. No one gets a pass from the trials of life.

As we petition the Lord for the needs of our children, it’s important that we believe He hears and answers prayer. The Bible teaches us that without faith it is impossible to please God and He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Before we approach the Lord with our requests, let’s begin with a simple heart check. Ask yourself the following questions before entering into prayer:

• Do I believe the Lord loves and cares about my adult child and his or her needs?

• Do I believe the Lord hears my prayers and will answer them according to His will and in His perfect timing?

• Do I believe God is good and is working everything for our good?

• Is there any doubt, sin, or unbelief in my life that is keeping me from approaching God’s throne on behalf of my son or daughter?

• Am I praying from a position of faith and trust or from a place of fear and doubt?

• Do I have an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving as I submit my requests to the Lord?

As you reflect on these questions, confess any areas holding you back from praying in faith for your children right now. Fear is a very real part of parenting, especially if your adult child is currently wayward or making destructive life-choices. If he or she is physically ill or unable to find steady work, that’s always a reason for concern. That’s why it’s important for us to remember as parents that the Lord loves them more than we can imagine. He cares about what they are going through and wants them to learn to turn to Him and trust Him with their needs. As you pray for your children, you can place them in the Lord's loving arms, believing He is moving in their lives to teach them to lean on Him.

Before entering into prayer, take a few moments to ask the Lord to settle these truths into your heart and mind. Then, approach the throne of grace to receive help in your time of need.

“All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV

Ten Ways to Pray for Your Adult Children

Here are ten ways to pray for your adult children. As you prepare to pray for the them, ask the Lord to show you any additional areas in which they need to be covered with your prayers.

1. Pray they will love Jesus.

Pray your adult child will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Ask the Lord to put a desire in their heart to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

2. Pray they will love others.

Pray your adult children will understand the deep love the Lord has for them and will love others with the same love He has given them. If they are married or have children of their own, pray they will show the love of God to their families.

3. Pray they will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Pray for your adult child to repent and receive forgiveness for any sins they have committed against God. Pray they will be filled with the Holy Spirit and know the abiding presence of His peace and power in their life.

4. Pray they will have a hunger for the word of God.

Pray your adult child will desire the word of God and will grow in faith, wisdom, and understanding as they learn the truths found within its pages. Pray they will live their lives in obedience to God’s word.

5. Pray they will resist temptation.

Pray your adult child will resist the enemy and temptation to fall into sin. Pray they will cry out to the Lord in times of distress and suffering.

6. Pray they will know their identity in Christ.

Pray your adult child will see themselves through the eyes of Christ and will grow in confidence as they understand their identity in Him.

7. Pray they will know their purpose and calling.

Pray that your adult child will embrace the purpose and calling the Lord has for them. Pray they will use their gifts and talents to the glory of God.

8. Pray they will take care of their bodies.

Pray your adult child cares for their health, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Ask the Lord to reveal to them the importance of saying "no" to harmful substances and sinful behaviors. Pray they will honor God with their bodies in how they treat themselves and others.

9. Pray they will grow in wisdom and knowledge in their lives.

Pray for your adult child to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Ask the Lord to direct their paths and give them the discernment necessary to make wise decisions in life.

10. Pray they will be diligent, hardworking, and have financial security.

Pray your adult child will be a responsible, hard-working adult who is able to provide for themselves and their family and that they will find joy in the work of their hands.

While you pray for your adult children, I encourage you to not grow weary if your prayers are not answered in the timing or way you had hoped or expected. God’s ways are not ours ways, nor His timing, the same as ours. Do not lose hope. It’s during this time of waiting, the Lord does His transforming work within our hearts. Because the Lord is faithful, we can rest in the assurance that He never turn a deaf ear to the cries of His children.

As you consider these 10 Bible verses to pray over your adult children, remember that the Lord loves you and your children. He doesn’t want you to be overwhelmed or intimidated by prayer. He simply wants you to come to Him and tell Him your concerns. He longs to hear the voices of His children as we cry out to Him. As we pray for our adult children, let’s do so with faith and thanksgiving. And may our prayers be continually on our lips as we lay them at the feet of Jesus.

“pray without ceasing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

A Prayer for Our Adult Children

Lord Jesus.

We pray for our adult children. We first want to thank You for the gift they are to us. As we lift them before your throne, we acknowledge that they are your children. We thank You for the love You have for them. We praise You for sending your Son, Jesus, to suffer and die so they may have eternal life with You.

We pray our children will serve You with their whole hearts. May they reject the lies of the world and desire to serve You completely. We pray they will be filled with the Holy Spirit and have a hunger for your Word. We pray they will not fall into temptation and that You will deliver them from the attacks of the evil one.

We pray our children will love You with their whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. May they love their neighbors as they love themselves. We pray they will share your love with everyone they meet. May they will exude your love everywhere they go. Above all else, we pray they will never doubt how very much You love them.

We pray our adult children will seek You as they make decisions concerning their careers and in their lives. May they seek your will and ask for your guidance in all they do. We ask you to prosper them and establish the work of their hands. Thank You for your faithful provision as You supply all their needs according to your riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

Whatever they face in life—good or bad—may they always know that You are good all the time. They can trust that You will work all things out for their good, even the hard things.

Jesus. How grateful we are for your word that teaches us how to pray for our children. Thank You for your Spirit who leads us to pray according to your will. And thank You for your grace that’s invites us to boldy approach your throne for mercy and help in our time of need.

We are blessed to be able to bring our adult children to You as we pray for them. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers according to your will. We pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

From Guilt to Grace: Freedom and Healing for Christian Moms of Addicted Children by Dawn R. Ward is now available on Amazon and B&N.

For moms with children struggling with addiction and in need of support, look up her Facebook group, Christian Moms of Addicted Children.

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