By: Brittany Ann
When we think about what we want for our kids, is there anything more important than building a strong moral foundation that will deepen and grow as they do?
Having unwavering moral character will serve them better than any reading level or mathematics equation. It will allow them to know and love Jesus, to understand right from wrong, to empathise with and serve others.
The end goal is crystal clear, but getting there, actually building that character in our kids, that’s where it can get a little overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be though if we remember we have a secret weapon at our disposal.
Prayer. Often times we forget about this simple but effective tool we have at our disposal for strengthening the moral character of our kids. To help you get started, here are 15 character traits along with a specific prayer for our children.
1. Love
“Lord, grant that may children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them.”
2. Honesty and Integrity
“Lord, may integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection.”
3. Justice
“Lord, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do.”
4. Respect
“Lord, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands.”
5. Generosity
“Lord, grant that my children may be generous and willing to share.”
6. Purity
“Lord, create in them a pure heart and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions.”
7. Courage
“Lord, may my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions.”
8. Faithfulness
“Lord, let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these two virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.”
9. Kindness
“Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
10. Compassion
“Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion.”
11. Responsibility
“Lord, grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load.”
12. Faith
“Lord, I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them.”
13. Servant’s Heart
“Lord, please help my children develop a servant’s heart, that they may serve wholeheartedly as if they were serving the Lord, not men.”
14. Gratitude
“Lord, help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God for everything.”
15. Self-Discipline
“Lord, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.”
For me, I repeat the prayer once for each of my children – specifically inserting their names as I pray. Every day, I select a different character trait to pray (ideally going though the list 2x a month).
Think of the power these prayers will have over the course of many months, or years. In just 1 year, you will specifically ask God to strengthen these traits in your children over 24 times each!
Don’t shy away from adding additional prayers for your kids also, being as specific or general as their lives dictate. My prayers are sometimes as general as “Lord, let my children know and love you” and sometimes as specific as “Lord, please help him go pee on the toilet.” (Real life here.)
If you don’t already, consider adding a prayer journal where you document the specific prayers you ask for your children. Writing down each of these prayers will help you focus on what we’re actually asking of God. It also serves as a beautiful reminder of how God answers our prayers.
Even though we may not hear an answer right away, when we do, we can go back and see where we documented those very
requests.
As we pray over our children for these specific character traits, they will remain at the forefront of our hearts and minds. Not only will this strengthen our prayers, but it will remind us that we should be exhibiting the same qualities we hope to instil in our children.
What are some of your favourite prayers to pray over your children? Do you have any to add to this list?
Article supplied with thanks to Equipping Godly Women.
About the Author: Brittany is a wife, a mother of three, a writer, author, teacher, and lover of Jesus!