Most of us consider January 1 as the start of a new year. For students—whether in kindergarten or graduate school—each new academic grade constitutes a new year.
They’re not the only ones whose new year begins in the Fall. The Jews have been doing it for millennia. Rosh Hashanah (which means head of the year) is known in the Bible as the Feast of Trumpets. God commanded the Israelites to observe this holiday in Leviticus 23:23-25: “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.’”
Most Christians don’t celebrate Jewish holidays, much less blow our trumpets to mark Rosh Hashanah. Still, this day carries an important symbolism. Our youth are tackling a new grade at school and need copious prayers. According to James 5:16, “the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (NLT).
Don’t let the word righteous in the verse trip you up. Everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23); no wonder the Bible likens our righteousness to “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Having said that, if you’ve accepted Jesus as Lord and confessed that His sacrifice on the cross cleansed you from all sins, God grants you the right to substitute your unrighteousness with Jesus’ perfect righteousness.
Which means when you pray in Jesus’ name, you’re also unleashing tremendous power to affect your circumstances.
Ready to pray? You’re welcome to utilize the following list as a springboard.
1. A Prayer for Our Children and Grandchildren to Form Life-Giving Friendships
“Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools.” - Proverbs 13:20, CEV
This verse doesn’t expire. It means whether you’re over 18 or not, whoever you socialize with has the potential to shape your life. But if this principle is true for adults—and it is—then it’s even more effective on youngsters, who are a lot more impressionable.
Lord,
Please turn the hearts of my children and grandchildren toward the right friends. May a deep repulsion naturally arise within them toward those who would influence them negatively. Keep the minors in my family far from people who might corrupt their development.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
2. A Prayer for Our Children and Grandchildren to Prioritize Heart Health
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23
We live in an age when too many things can steal a young person’s devotion. For instance, did you know the average teen spends close to 8 hours on their phones on a daily basis? They’re bewitched by TikTok. Videos and video games. Chatting with friends. Some are even addicted to porn.
Are these youth keeping their hearts centered on God, as they spend so much of their waking time on an electronic gadget? That’s where our prayers can make a difference.
Lord,
Help my kids/grandkids to see and taste that You alone are good (Psalm 34:8). Shield their eyes, ears, and especially hearts from anything wicked.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
3. A Prayer to Foster Obedient Hearts in Our Children and Grandchildren
Parenting is tricky. On the one hand, the Bible instructs children to obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1) because God assigned parents the responsibility of raising their children. On the other hand, don’t expect your offspring to grow an obedient heart if you’re the type to bark orders or withhold affection.
Lord,
Show me how I can model the Father’s heart for the youth in my family. Instill in them a heart that’s obedient to You, their parents, and the godly adults who speak into their lives. Give us wisdom to raise them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6).
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Download the journal below to personalize these prayers.
4. A Prayer for Our Children and Grandchildren to Know Their True Worth
Is it crucial for you to have successful kids or grandkids? Define success in whatever way you choose. Maybe you want them to consistently ace their tests. Master the violin. Achieve an athletic scholarship. The point is to pay attention to how you respond to children surrounding their accomplishments.
Let’s break it down further. If your daughter won a spelling bee trophy, go ahead and celebrate. Let her know how proud you are of her efforts. But if your son placed second—or didn’t make the swim team at all—also celebrate him. Let him know that you love him for who he is, not for what he can do.
This way, children learn not to equate their work with their worth.
Lord,
Help the youngsters in my world work hard. But when they fall short, help me to still treat them as valuable. Show me how I can help my kids and grandkids see how their worth doesn’t depend on their work.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
5. A Prayer for Protection against Evil for Our Children and Grandchildren
As I write this, the names of the two children who lost their lives at a Minnesota church were just released. A shooter targeted the church where they were worshipping. Last year, a teenage gunman killed two students at a Georgia high school. In 2023, three children died at a Christian school in Tennessee when another individual opened fire. The year before, a teenage shooter killed 21 people at an elementary school in Texas. The majority of the victims—19, to be precise—were kids.
These data are not meant to scare you or anger you. We don’t fight evil with evil (Romans 12:17). Rather, let these somber facts illustrate how wicked these days are (Ephesians 5:15) and stimulate us to always invoke divine protection over the youth in our homes.
Lord,
Please cover my children and grandchildren with Your precious blood. Wherever they are, whatever else happens, let the promise of Psalm 91:7 protect them at all times: “A thousand may fall at their side, ten thousand at their right hand, but it will not come near them.”
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
6. A Prayer for Open Channels of Communication with Our Children and Grandchildren
After their son committed suicide, Matt and Maria launched a lawsuit against OpenAI. The parents alleged that ChatGPT prompted the teen to kill himself. One of the most disturbing aspects of this tragic case is that ChatGPT allegedly told the minor not to reveal his suicidal ideation to his loved ones.
Pedophiles and sex traffickers adopt a similar tactic. First, they pose to be someone a child is drawn to—and then they tell the youth to keep their conversation a secret. “Don’t tell anybody, not even mom or dad!” While we’re not omniscient—we don’t know it all—there’s One who is. We can pray for God to step in between vile perpetrators and our innocent children.
Lord,
Help the youth in my life to trust me. Help them confide in me, especially if disturbed individuals attempt to gain their trust. Alert me if something evil is brewing around them. Let there always be a hedge of fire surrounding my family.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
7. A Prayer for Our Children and Grandchildren to Love God
Is there an age when it’s too early for us to instill in children a desire for God?
Never.
All of the prior prayer points are secondary to this one. If kids love God, they’d want to listen to His still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-13). They’d therefore heed His warning to stay away from questionable individuals. Be obedient to parents and trusted authority figures. Guard their hearts. Do not base their worth on their accomplishments. So, here’s a prayer you can utter for their spiritual development:
Lord,
Help me teach my kids and grandkids to love You—not in a fear-based or performative way, but out of a sincere heart. Place in them an insatiable desire for more of You. Let their appetite be ruined for anything other than You and Yours. Set them apart for Your Spirit’s designs for them.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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