Chapter 15 Identifying God-given Gifts and Talents

Lord,

I thank You for the gifts and talents You have placed in (name of child).  I pray that You would develop them in her(him) and use them for Your glory.  Make them apparent to me and to her(him), and show me specifically if there is any special nurturing training, learning experience, or opportunity I should provide for her(him).  May her (his) gifts and talents be developed in Your way and in Your time.

Your Word says, "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them"(Romans 12:6).  As she(he) recognizes the talents and abilities You've given her(him), I pray that no feelings of inadequacy, fear or uncertainty will keep her(him) from using them according to Your will.  May she(he) hear the call You have on her(his) life so that she(he) doesn't spend a lifetime trying to figure out what it is or miss it altogether.  Let her(his) talent never be wasted, watered down by mediocrity, or used to glorify anything or  anyone other than You, Lord.

I pray that You would reveal to her(him) what her(his) life work is to be and help her(him) excel in it.  Bless the work of her(his) hands, and may she(he) be able to earn a good living doing the work she (he) loves and does best.

Your Word says that, " A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men" (Proverbs 18:16).  May whatever  she(he) does find favor with others and be well received and respected.  But most of all,  I pray the gifts and talents You placed in her(him) be released to fined their fullest expression in glorifying You.

Chapter 14 Instilling the Desire to Learn

Lord,

I pray that (name of child) will have a deep reverence for You and Your ways. May he(she) hide Your Word in his(her) heart like a treasure, and seek after understanding like silver or gold. Give him (her) a good mind, a teachable spirit, and an ability to learn. Instill in him(her) a desire to attain knowledge and skill, and may he(she) have joy in the process. Above all, I pray that he(she) will be taught by You, for Your Word says that when our children are taught by You they are guaranteed peace. You have also said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction"(Proverbs 1:7). May he(she) never be a fool and turn away from learning, but rather may he(she) turn to You for the knowledge he(she) needs.

I pray he(she) will respect the wisdom of his(her) parents and be willing to be taught by them. May he(she) also have the desire to be taught by the teachers You bring into his(her) life. Handpick each one Lord, and may they be godly people from whom he(she) can easily learn. Take out of his(her) life any teacher who would be an ungodly influence or create a bad learning experience. Let him(her) find favor with his(her) teachers and have good communication with them. Help him(her) to excel in school and do well in any classes he(she) may take. Make the pathways of learning smooth and not something with which he(she) must strain and struggle. Connect everything in his(her) brain the way it is supposed to be so that he(she) has clarity of thought, organization, good memory, and strong learning ability.

I say to him(her) according to Your Word,"Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge"(Proverbs 23:12). "May the Lord give you understanding in all things" (2 Timothy 2:7) Lord, enable him(her) to experience the joy of learning more about You and Your world.

Chapter 13 Having the Motivation for Proper Body Care

Lord, I lift (name of child) to You and ask that You would place her(him) a desire to eat healthy food. I know that throughout her(his) life she(he) will be tempted to make poor food choices and eat that which brings death instead of life. Help her(him) to understand what's good for her(him) and what isn't, and give her(him) a desire for food that is healthful. Let her(him) be repulsed or dissatisfied with food that is harmful. I pray that she(he) be spared from all eating disorders in any form. By the authority given me in Jesus Christ (Luke 10:19), on my daughter's (son's) behalf, I say "No to anorexia", "No to bulimia," "No to food addiction," "No to overeating," "No to starvation diets," "No to any kind of unbalanced eating habits." Lord, Your word says, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (john 8:32). Help her(him) to see the truth about the way she (he) is to live, so that she(he) can be set free from unhealthful habits. I pray that along with the desire to eat properly, You would give her(him) the motivation to exercise regularly, to drink plenty of pure water and to control and manage stress in her(his) life by living according to Your Word. Whenever she(he) struggles in any od those areas may she(he) turn to You and say,"Teach me Your way, O Lord (Psalm 27:11). Give her(him) a vision of her(his) body as the temple of Your Holy spirit. I pray that she(he) will value the body You've given her(him) and desire to take proper care of it. May she(he) not be critical of it, nor examine herself(himself) through the microscope of public opinion and acceptance. I pray that she(he) will not be bound by the lure of fashion magazines, television, or movies which try to influence her(him) with an image of what they say she(he) should look like, Enable her(him) to say,"Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things" (Psalm 119:37). Help her(him) to see that what makes a person truly attractive is Your Holy spirit living in her(him) and radiating outward. May she(he) come to understand that true attractiveness begins in the heart of one who loves God. Establish Your vision of health and attractiveness in her(his) heart this day, and permanently instill in her(him) the desire to take proper care of her(his) body because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 12 Enjoying a Life of Health and Healing

Lord,
Because You have instructed us in Your Word that we are to pray for one another so that we may be healed, I pray for healing and wholeness for (name of child). I pray that sickness and infirmity will have no place or power in his(her) life. I pray for protection against any disease coming into his(her) body. Your Word says "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction" (Psalm 107:20). Wherever there is disease, illness or infirmity in his(her) body, I pray that You Lord, would touch him(her) with Your healing power and restore him(her) to total health.
Deliver him(her) from any destruction or injury that could come upon him(her). Specifically I ask You to heal (name any specific problem). If we are to see a doctor, I pray that You, Lord, would show us who that should be. Give that doctor wisdom and full knowledge of the best way to proceed.
Thank You, Lord, that You suffered and died for us so that we might be healed. I lay claim to that heritage of healing which You have promised in Your Word and provided for those who believe. I look to You for a life of health, healing and wholeness for my child.

Chapter 11 Following Truth, Rejecting Lies

Lord,
I pray that You will fill (name of child) with Your Spirit of truth. Give her (him) a heart that loves truth and follows after it, rejecting all lies as a manifestation of the enemy. Flush out anything in her (him) that would entertain a lying spirit and cleanse her(him) from any death that has crept in as a result of lies she(he) may have spoken or thought. Help her(him) to understand that every lie gives the devil a piece of her(his) heart, and into the hole that's left comes confusion, death and separation from Your presence. Deliver her(him) from any lying spirit. I pray that he(she) not be blinded or deceived, but always be able to clearly understand Your truth.
I pray that she(he) will never be able to get away with lying - that all lies will come to light and be exposed. If he(she) lies, may he(she) be so miserable that confession and is consequences will seem like a relief. Help me to teach her (him) what it means to lie, and effectively discipline her(him) when she(he) tests that principle. Your Word says that "when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). I pray that Your Spirit of truth will guide her(him) into all truth. May she(he) never be a person who gives place to lies, but rather a person of integrity who follows hard after the Spirit of truth.

Chapter 10 Being the Person God Created

Lord,
I pray that You would pour out Your Spirit upon (name of child) this day and anoint him (her) for all that You've called him(her) to be and do. Lord You have said "Let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called" (1Corinthians 7:24). May it be for this child according to Your Word, that he(she) never stray from what You have called him(her) to be and do, or try to be something he(she) is not.
Deliver him (her) from any evil plan of the devil to rob him(her) of life, to steal away his(her) uniqueness and giftedness, to compromise the path you've called him (her) to walk, or to destroy the person You created him(her) to be. May he (she) not be a follower of anyone but You, but may he(she) be a leader of people into Your kingdom. Help him(her) grow into a complete understanding of his(her) authority in Jesus, while retaining a submissive and humble spirit. May the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, and self-control grow in him (her) daily (Galatians 5:22). May he(she) find his(her) indentity inYou, view himself(herself) as Your instrument, and know that he(she) is complete in You. Give him(her) a vision for his(her) life when setting goals for the future and a sense of purpose about what You've called him(her) to do. Help him(her) to see himself (herself) as You do - from his(her) future and not from his(her) past. May he(she) be convinced that Your thoughts toward him(her) a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Teach him(her) to look to You as his(her) hope for the future. May he(she) understand it is You "who have saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began" (2 Timothy 1:9). May his (her) commitment to being who You created him(her) to be enable him (her) to grow daily in confidence and Holy Spirit boldness.

Chapter 9 Developing a Hunger for the Things of God

Lord
I pray for (name of child) to have an ever-increasing hunger for more of You. May she(he) long for Your presence - long to spend time with You in prayer, praise and worship. Give her(him) a desire for the truth of Your Word and a love for Your laws and Your ways. Teach her(him) to live by faith and be led by the Holy Spirit, having an availability to do what You tell her(him) to do. May she(he) be so aware of the fullness of Your Spirit in her(him) that when she(he) is depleted in any way she(he) will immediately run to You to be renewed and refreshed.
I pray that her(his)heart will not have any allegiances or diversions away from You, but rather that she(he) would be repulsed by ungodliness and all that is in opposition to You. May a deep reverence and love for You and Your ways color everything she (he) does and every choice she(he) makes. Help her (him) to understand the consequences of her (his) actions and know that a life controlled by the flesh will only reap death. May she (he) not be wise in her (his) own eyes, but rather "fear the Lord and depart from evil" (Proverb 3:7).
I pray that she (he) will be reliable, dependable, responsible, compassionate, sensitive, loving and giving to others. Deliver her(him) from any pride, laziness, slothfulness, selfishness, or lust of the flesh. I pray that she (he) will have a teachable and submissive spirit that says "Yes" to the things of God and "No" to the things of the flesh. Strengthen her(him) to stand strong in her(his) convictions.
I pray that she (he) will always desire to be an active member of a Christian church that is alive to the truth of Your Word and the power of Holy Spirit-led worship, prayer, and teaching. As she(he) learns to read Your Word, write Your law in her(his) mind and on her(his) heart so that she(he) always walks with a confident assurance of the righteousness of Your commands. As she (he) learns to pray, may she (he) also learn to listen for Your voice. I pray that her(his) relationship with You will never become lukewarm, indifferent, or shallow. May there always be a Holy Spirit fire in her(his) heart and unwavering desire for the things of God.

Chapter 8 Attracting Godly Friends and Role Models

Lord,
I lift up (name of child) to You and ask that You would bring godly friends and role models into his(her) life. Give him(her) the wisdom he(she) needs to choose friends who are godly and help him(her) to never compromise his(her) walk with You in order to gain acceptance. Give me Holy Spirit- inspired discernment in how I guide or influence him(her) in the selection of friends. I pray that You would take anyone who is not a godly influence out of his(her)life or else transform that person into Your likeness.
Your Word says, "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed" (Proverbs 13:20). Don't let m child be a companion of fools. Enable him(her) to walk with wise friends and not have to experience the destruction that can happen by walking with foolish people. Deliver him(her) from anyone with an ungodly character so he(she) will not learn that person's ways and set a snare for his(her) own soul.
Whenever there is grief over a lost friendship, comfort him(her) and send new friends with whom he(she) can connect, share, and be the person You created him(her) to be. Take away any loneliness or low self-esteem that would cause him(her) to seek out less than God-glorifying relationships.
In Jesus' name I pray that You would teach him(her) the meaning of true friendship. Teach him(her) how to be a good friend and make strong, close, lasting relationships. May each of his (her) friendship always glorify You.

Chapter 7 Maintaining Good Family Relationships

Lord,

I pray for (name of child) and her(his) relationship with all family members.  Protect and preserve them from any unresolved or permanent breach.  Fill her(his) heart with Your love and give her(him) an abundance of compassion and forgiveness that will overflow to each member of the family.  Specifically, I pray for a close, happy, loving and fulfilling relationship between (name of child) and (name of family member) for all the days of their lives.  May there always be good communication between them and may unforgiveness have no root in their hearts.  Help them to love, value, appreciate, and respect one another so that the God-ordained tie between them cannot be broken.  I pray according to Your Word, that they "be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (Romans 12:10).

Teach my child to resolve misunderstandings acccording to Your Word.  And if any division has already begun, if any relationship is strained or severed, Lord, I pray that You will drive out the wedge of division and bring healing.  I pray that there be no strain, breach, misunderstanding, arguing, fighting, or separating of ties.  Give her(him) a heart of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Your word instructs us to "be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous' (1Peter 3:8).  Help her(him) to live accordingly. "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).  In Jesus' name I pray that You would instill a love and compassion in her (him) for all family members that is strong and unending, like a cord that cannot be broken.

Chapter 6 Honoring Parents and Resisting Rebellion

Lord,
I pray that You would give (name of child) a heart that desires to obey You. Put into him (her) a longing to spend time with You, in Your word and in prayer, listening for Your voice. Shine Your light upon any secret or unseen rebellion that is taking root in his(her) heart, so that it can be identified and destroyed. Lord, I pray that he (she) will not give himself(herself) to pride, selfishness, and rebellion, but that he (she) will be delivered from it. By the authority You've given me in Jesus' name, I "stand against the wiles of the devil" ans I resist idolatry, rebellion, stubbornness, and disrespect; they will have no part in my son's (daughter's) life, not will my child walk a path of destruction and death because of them.
Your Word instructs, "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord" (Colossians 3:20). I pray that you would turn the heart of this child toward his(her) parents and enable him(her) to honor and obey father and mother so that his(her) life will be long and good. Turn his(her) heart toward You so that all he(she) does is pleasing in Your sight. May he(she) learn to identify and confront pride and rebellion in himself(herself) and be willing to confess and repent of it. Make him (her) uncomfortable with sin. Help him(her) to know the beauty and simplicity of walking with a sweet and humble spirit in obedience and submission to You.

Chapter 5 Establishing an Eternal Future

Lord,
I bring (name of child) before You and ask that You would help her(him) grow into a deep understanding of who You are. Open her(his)heart and bring her(him) to a full knowledge of the truth about You. Lord, You have said in Your Word, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). I pray for that kind of faith for my child. May she (he) call You her(his) Savior, be filled with Your Holy Spirit , acknowledge You in every area of her(his) life, and choose always to follow You and Your ways. Help her (him) to fully believe that Jesus laid down His life for her(him) so that she(he) might have life eternally and abundantly now. Help her(him) to comprehend the fullness of Your forgiveness so that she(he) will not live in guilt and condemnation.
I pray that she(he) will live a fruitful life, ever increasing in knowledge of You. May she (he) always know your will, have spiritual understanding, and walk in a manner that is pleasing in Your sight. You have said in Your Word that You will pour out Your Spirit on my offspring (Isaiah 44:3). I pray that You would pour out Your Spirit upon (name of child) this day.
Thank You, Lord, that You care about her(his) eternal future even more than I do and that it is secure in You. In Jesus' name I pray that she (he) will not doubt or stray from the path. You have for her (him) all the days of her(his) life.

Chapter 4 Feeling Loved and Accepted

Lord,

I pray for (name of child) to feel loved and accepted.  Penetrate his (her) heart with Your love right now and help him (her) to fully understand how far-reaching and complete it is.  Your Word says You loved us so much that You sent Your Son to die for us (John 3:16). Deliver him(her) from any lies of the enemy that may have been planted in his (her) mind to cause him (her) to doubt that.  Jesus said, "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love" (John 15:9-10).  Lord, help (name of child) to abide in Your love.  May he (she) say as David did, " Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust" (Psalm 143:8).  Manifest Your love to this child in a real way today and help him (her) to receive it.

I pray also that You would help me to love this child unconditionally the way You do, and enable me to show it in a manner  he(she) can perceive.  Reveal to me how I can demonstrate and model Your love to him (her) so that it will be clearly understood.  I pray that all my family members will love and accept him (her), and may he (she) find favor with other people as well.  With each day that he (she) grows in the confidence of being loved and accepted, release in him (her) the capacity to easily communicate love to others.  Enable him (her) to reach out in love in a way that is appropriate.  As he (she) comes to fully understand the depth of Your love for him (her) and receives it into his (her) soul, make him (her) a vessel through which Your love flows to others.  In Jesus' name I pray.

Chapter 3 Securing Protection from Harm

Lord,

I lift (name od child) up to You and ask that You would put a hedge of protection around her (him).  Protect her(his) spirit, body, mind, and emotions from any kind of evil or harm.  I pray specifically for protection from accidents, disease, injury, or any other physical, mental, or emotional abuse.  I pray that she (he) will make her (his) refuge "in the shadow of Your wings" until "these calamities have passed by" (Psalm 57:1).  Hide her (him) from any kind of evil influences that would come against her (him).  Keep her (him) safe from any hidden dangers and let no weapon fromed against her (him) be able to prosper.  Thank You, Lord, for Your many promises of protection.  Help her (him) to walk in Your ways  and in obedience to  Your will so that she (he) never comes out from under the umbrella of that protection.  Keep her (him) safe in all she (he) does and  wherever she(he) goes.  In Jesus' name, I pray

Chapter 2 Releasing My Child Into God's Hands

Lord,
I come to You in Jesus' name and give (name of child) to You. I am convinced that You alone know what is best for him(her). You alone know what he(she) needs. I release him(her) to You to care for and protect, and I commit myself to pray for everything concerning him(her) that I can think of or that You put upon my heart. Teach me how to pray and guide me in what to pray about. Help me not to impose my own will when I'm praying for him(her), but rather enable me to pray that Your will be done in his(her) life.
Thank You that I can partner with You in raising him(her) and that I don't have to do it alone. I'm grateful that I don't have to rely on the world's unreliable and ever-changing methods for child rearing, but that I can have clear directions from Your Word and wisdom as I pray to You for answers.
Thank You, Lord for the precious gift of this child. Because Your Word says that every good gift comes from You, I know that You have given him(her) to me to care for and raise. Help me to do that. Show me places where I continue to hang on to him(her) and enable me to release him(her) to Your protection, guidance, and counsel. Help me not to live in fear of possible dangers, but in the joy and peace of knowing that You are in control. I rely on You for everything, and this day I trust my child to You and release him(her) into Your hands.

Chapter 1 Becoming a Praying Parent

Lord,
I submit myself to You. I realize that parenting a child in the way You would have me to is beyond my human abilities.I know I need You to help me.  I want to partner with You and partake of Your gifts of wisdom, discernment, revelation and guidance. I also need Your strength and patience, along with a generous portion of Your love flowing through me.  Teach me how to love the way You love. Where I need to be healed, delivered, changed, matured, or made whole.  I invite You to do that in me.  Help me to walk in righteousness and integrity before You. Teach me Your ways, enable me to obey Your commandments and do only what is pleasing in Your sight.  May the beauty of Your Spirit be so evident in me that I will be a godly role model.
Give me the communication, teaching and nurturing skills that I must have.  Make me the parent You want me to be and teach me how to pray and truly intercede for the life of this child. Lord You said in Your Word,  "Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive" (Matthew 21:22). In Jesus' name I ask that You will increase my faith to believe for all the things You've put on my heart to pray for concerning this child.