Sample prayer

God Most High, “There is none like You, O Lord; You are great, and Your name is great in might. Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like You” (Jeremiah 10:6-7). You made the earth by Your power, established the world by Your wisdom, and by Your understanding You stretched out the heavens (Jeremiah 10:12). I see Your grand designs everywhere! You are the One who formed us and in You we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28)! Reflecting on You and Your perfect holiness causes me to recognize my own insignificance and brings my sinfulness to light, yet You see me as significant and consider me worthy – worthy enough that You gave Your Son Jesus to die for my sins so that I can be part of Your family (Galatians 2:20). Thank you!

Daily I am amazed by Your grace that welcomes me into Your holy presence. The magnitude of You and Your love is beyond my understanding. Forgive me, Lord, for being self-centred and small-minded in my view of You. How little I really know of You and Your amazing power! Please bless me with fresh insights and renewed appreciation for You each day so I can truly fear You and teach our children to do the same. I pray, as David did, “Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11).

Heavenly Father, as my children learn about You, I ask that their spontaneous reaction would be of awe-inspired worship, willing obedience and incredible trust. As my children, ________ and ________, are amazed by the multitude of stars on a clear night, speak to them of Your power, gently reminding them that You bring the stars out each night and because of Your great power and mighty strength not one of them is missing (Isaiah 40:26). As my children, ________ and ________, stand at the foot of an immense mountain or on the shore of a crashing sea, remind them that it is You who establishes and removes mountains and commands the ocean to be still (Psalm 65:5-7, Psalm 89:9, Job 9:5; 38:8-11, Isaiah 40:4-5).

As ________ and ________ learn about the complexities of their bodies’ design may they know full well that it was You who made them and may they desire to honour You with their bodies (Psalm 139:14). Finally, as my children experience pain and injustice in life, remind them of the cruel and undeserved death You suffered on the cross. Let this speak to ________ and ________ of Your incredible love and merciful grace. Please establish a spiritual pattern in their lives that has them drawing ever nearer to You because they revere You and desire Your refining, rather than avoiding You because they have hidden sin in their lives (John 14:6).

My prayer is that ________ and ________ will fall so much in love with You that they desire You more than the things that could compete for their affection. In this culture ________ and ________ will be tempted to treat You trivially, to trust in themselves and in man instead of trusting in You. Media is rampant with “heroes” who slander Your name and “OMG” is thoughtlessly shared via text-talk, potentially influencing ________ and ________ to disrespect You too. Please protect them from Satan’s plans to discredit You by limiting their perspective of who You are: the great I AM.

Please put Your Spirit on ________ and ________ so, like Jesus, they will delight in fearing You (Isaiah 11:3). As they grow, may they develop an unwavering confidence in You and may their sincere love for You be the basis for their conduct.

For our family, I pray that we will live, hour by hour, fully aware of Your presence in our lives. Your Word says: “I will make My dwelling among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. . . . I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:16,18). What a privilege it is to have the Lord of the universe as our Father! We want to revere You and to follow carefully all Your commands, not considering ourselves better that others and not turning from Your law to the left or the right (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). Amen.

Scripture-guided prayer for parents

Read and pray through one or more of the selected Scriptures under each heading. Focus on listening to God and allowing His Spirit to direct you as you pray.

Character focus

Begin by letting God know how much you are in awe of who He is and what He does. Acknowledge that He is the all-powerful and all-knowing, ever-present, sovereign Lord and Creator of the Universe. Thank Him for being a loving and personal God.

Psalm 86:8-10 | Psalm 93:1-5 | Isaiah 44:6-8 | Amos 4:13 | Romans 11:33-36

Heart search

Acknowledge times when you’ve shown a lack of reverence for God.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20 | Psalm 36:1-4 | Isaiah 59:12-20 | 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 | Romans 3:9-18

Gratitude

Thank God for ways you have seen a healthy “fear of God” in your family.

Family requests

Ask God to help you and your children learn to revere Him.

Deuteronomy 10:12-20 | Psalm 86:11-12 | Psalm 147:10-11 | Isaiah 50:10-11 | Matthew 6:9-13