20 Ways to Pray for Your Adult Children

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This series on 20 Ways to Pray has 4 lists for family: husband, wife, children, and adult children. Honestly, until I became an empty-nester, I never thought about how much my grown children would still need my prayers. But they do and their needs, once out on their own, are far different! So the 20 Ways to Pray for Your Adult Children list was born!

This list – just like the others – is not exhaustive and is not meant to be. Instead, it is to give you a starting point of Biblically-based needs your adult children have. Each item on the list – just like all the other lists – is grounded in one or more verses from Scripture. These verses make great prayers as you personalize them!

Even if your children don’t see you much -or even want to, {{hugs}} – they still need your prayers. And they always will. Don’t let your children face the world and life without your prayers covering them!

Prayer: A Privilege & Responsibility

Praying for your children is a life-long privilege and holy responsibility.

I did not grow up in a praying home. My parents never knelt by my bedside and guided me to the throne of grace. And as I grew into a young woman, naïve in so many ways and desperately needing guidance, I felt the lack of prayers offered on my behalf deeply. I do not fault my parents for this – you cannot teach what you do not know.

When our first son was born and I was now the parent, I determined to give my child what I did not have. Although far from perfect, I prayed for them regularly from birth through high school and then college graduation. Now, I’m grateful for the privilege of praying for them as they raise their own families.

As your children grow – just as with mine – the focus of your prayers will change. You will never know – and neither will I – the impact of your prayers on your children. “For this child, I prayed” (1 Samuel 1:27).

How to Pray for Your Adult Children

When you become a parent of adult children, so much changes. You may feel adrift as a parent. Your children make choices daily that will have ongoing repercussions for years. And they might not care about your opinion or advice – or even keep you informed! Don’t take that as your parenting ‘pink slip.’ Once a mom, always a mom (or dad!).

When your children are small and at home with you (at least most of the time), it is easier to know how to pray. You see them and their needs daily. You know their struggles, their pain, their dreams, their faith.

When they move out on their own, you lose that intimate contact with their lives and may be confused about how to pray. Thankfully, the Bible gives us plenty of ‘prayer ammunition!’

Anything the Bible teaches about is worthwhile to pray about – and that goes for yourself as much as your adult children! If you need more ideas beyond what is below, start praying through the book of Proverbs. What young adult doesn’t need wisdom?? Or older adults for that matter!

A note about pronouns: I have used male pronouns with odd numbers, and female pronouns with even. Of course, all points apply to both genders.