“The game is tied, three seconds left on the clock, the inbound pass goes to Jordan, he turns, dribbles, fade away jumper… it’s good!” Any kid with a hoop in the driveway has taken his fair share of “game-winning shots.”
As fathers, we only get so many big moments before our kids move from one phase to another. In the NBA, the 24-second shot clock reminds the player with the ball that there is little time to waste. In the book of James, the author reminds each of us, “you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes,” (James 4:14). James also reminds us, however, that “[t]he prayer of a righteous person has great power…” (James 5:16).
The clock is ticking, but here is the good news: every milestone, birthday, skinned knee, first day of school, broken heart, new job, baptism, and graduation is an opportunity for you to hit a game winner as a dad. The secret to becoming a great father is really no secret at all: become a praying father. Prayer is never wasted time, and these six prayers for fathers and husbands will help you be prepared for every situation that fatherhood throws your way.
Key Takeaways
- A Praying Father Is a Powerful Father: James 5:16 makes clear that the prayer of a righteous man has great power, and that includes the dad praying regularly for his kids.
- Pray for Salvation Before Anything Else: A child who comes to faith in Christ carries that inheritance into eternity, which makes it the first and most important thing a father can bring before God.
- Kingdom First Means Worry Less: A dad who prays for a Kingdom-first home is not ignoring his responsibilities; he is trusting them to a Father who cares more about his kids than he ever could.
- Wisdom Is Caught More Than Taught: A father who seeks God’s wisdom openly will find his kids absorbing it without a formal lesson taking place.
- Start Praying for Their Spouse Now: The most important decision your child will ever make outside of following Christ is who they marry.
6 Prayers for Fathers
1. A Prayer for Your Children’s Salvation
The most important treasure you can give your children is not a family fortune, but a family faith in Jesus Christ. A father who regularly prays for his children’s salvation will be far better prepared to lead his son or daughter to Christ should the opportunity present itself. Whether you get to personally lead your children to Christ or not, the day that they do choose to follow Jesus will become one of the greatest moments in your life as a dad.
“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost,’” (Luke 15:6).
A Father’s Prayer for His Children’s Salvation: “God, would you at the earliest possible age stir up a saving faith in the hearts of my children. Help me to create a home where my children can see, hear and experience the love of Jesus in a way that makes Him irresistible. Make me ready to share the Good News of salvation with them and lead them to Christ, according to Your will.”
2. A Prayer for a Kingdom First Home
As a dad, there are a lot of things you can worry about: money, grades, sports, friends, and social media, to name a few. When Jesus’ disciples were overcome with worry, He gave them this clear instruction: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” (Matthew 6:33).
The father who prays for a “Kingdom first home” isn’t wasting unnecessary energy or burning the candle at both ends because he believes that God cares more about his kids than he could ever imagine. Put “the scholarship” first, and your kids will miss the Kingdom, but if you put the Kingdom first, your kids will have everything they need and more.
A Father’s Prayer for a Kingdom First Home: “Lord, help me to create a Kingdom first home where we seek You and Your priorities above all else. Remove all anxiety and worry from our home because we know that You are a good Father, who cares for His children more than we could ever dream.”
3. A Prayer for Contagious Wisdom
Foolishness comes standard in the base model of every child. Solomon wrote, “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him,” (Proverbs 22:15). Discipline is a necessary and healthy tool for teaching your children, but as they grow older, wisdom can become contagious in a home that values God’s Word and God’s ways in every decision.
It’s been said, “A Proverb a day keeps the fool at bay,” and a father who regularly models how to consult the Scriptures for wisdom will find that much of what his children learn is caught, not taught.
A Father’s Prayer for Contagious Wisdom: “Lord, teach me the ways of wisdom. Show me how to walk in obedience to Your Word. Help me to be consistent in setting boundaries, loving in administering discipline, and persistent in pointing my children to wisdom. May they grow wise as they see how I rely on Your Word as a lamp for my feet.”
4. A Prayer for Godly Friendships
After the influence of parents, nothing will shape the character and direction of your children’s lives more than their friendships. Proverbs 13:20 offers both a promise and a warning on this note, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
Dads must see themselves as shepherds, making sure that their children do not wander into dangerous territories with friends that do not value godly wisdom. In the digital age, forming friendships is more difficult and dangerous than ever before, so fathers must be diligent to guide and direct their children towards environments where healthy relationships can form.
A Father’s Prayer for Godly Friendships: “Father, I know I cannot fully control my children’s friendships, but show me how to shepherd them into the right places where healthy relationships can grow. Guard my children from harmful friendships that lead them into compromise and harm. Help them to forge lifelong friendships that they will treasure for the rest of their lives.”
5. A Prayer for Clean Hands and Pure Hearts
Childhood and adolescence are a battlefield, and few make it through without some battle scars. As much as you want to roll your children in bubble wrap, they will need to learn how to navigate making good choices and godly decisions. King David’s description of one who can ascend to God’s holy presence is a wonderful prayer for all fathers to pray over their children as they navigate adolescence into adulthood.
“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully,” (Psalm 24:3-4).
A Father’s Prayer for Clean Hands and Pure Hearts: “Lord, I know my children will stumble and fall from time to time, but keep their hands clean from harming others and their hearts pure from the stain of sin. Teach them to lift their souls up to You alone, and show them the value of honesty and integrity at all times.”
6. A Prayer for a Godly Spouse
Apart from the decision to follow Jesus, the person whom your children choose to marry is the most important one they will ever make. Even when they are young, it is good, healthy and holy to pray for the one whom will become their beloved. Remember, as a father, you are setting an example for your sons, and a standard for your daughters when it comes to marriage.
The world of dating is only becoming more treacherous in the digital age with sketchy apps, deep fakes, and loose morals. Seeking God’s plan and God’s path for marriage over the world’s has never been more necessary.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths,” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
A Father’s Prayer for a Godly Spouse: “Heavenly Father, will you prepare my children to become the future husbands and wives that they need to be for their children? Please guide them to trust your ways and follow your paths as they seek to find their future spouse. Lead them to a godly spouse who will be a sovereign fit for a lifetime of marriage together.”
Fatherhood is not for the faint of heart. There will be many twists and turns, lead changes, and missed shots, but if you keep God at the center of it all, the ball will make its way into your hands with the game on the line and the clock ticking down. Becoming a righteous man and a prayerful father is the most powerful and effective way to raise your children to grow into healthy and holy adults.
Getting Started
Now you have six prayers for fathers that you can pray. Rotate through them and add them to your calendar or daily reminder app. Set it to go off at a time when you know you will be able to stop and pray at that very moment.
You don’t need a lot of time or fancy words to pour your heart out to God… just tell God what is beating on your heart for your kids. God is a good Father; He will hear your prayers and answer you in ways you will not expect. Get started today with one of these prayers for fathers… the ball is in your court.
