Praying for our Kids Like Paul

Praying for our children is a pretty normal thing for parents, isn’t it?  But what are we praying for?  Are we praying for the right things?

So a few months ago I started to compile the prayers of Paul.  There are some amazing depths here – not just because it’s from a man who was incredibly close to God and had spent time with Jesus personally, but these prayers were guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

What I have done is I’ve picked one of these for each of my kids, and I’m praying elements of them each day.  It’s also led to some good study on these passages to know what exactly Paul was praying about and asking prayer for. So for example this is what Colossians 1:9-12 says and how it could be prayed for one of your kids:

Colossians 1:9-12, “9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”

Monday – Lord, help my child to be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding…”

Tuesday – Lord, may my child so “…that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him…”

Wednesday – Lord, with the desire that “…being fruitful in every good work…”

Thursday – Lord would they be able to “…increasing in the knowledge of God”.

Friday – So that Lord they may be “…strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.”

Saturday – Help them Lord to “…giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.”

Here are all the passages:

WHAT PAUL PRAYED FOR

Colossians 1:9-12, 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Ephesians: 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians: 1:9 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10 9 For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, 10 as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon 6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.

WHAT PAUL ASKED FOR PRAYER FOR

Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

2 Thessalonians 3:1,2 1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.

Romans 15:30-32 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.

How are you using the Scripture to pray?  What other tools are you using to pray for your kids?  Share with us your thoughts in the comments below…