Why You Should Pray for Your Kids Before They Are Born
Kelli Crawford
The little plus sign on the pregnancy test announces, “Baby!”
We cry, laugh, rejoice, and tremble all at the same time. New life in the womb is amazing. It humbles us, and sometimes terrifies us. What about the crazy world this child will face? What about sickness, disappointment, dangers, and tragedies? Preparing for this new life being formed can overwhelm us or motivate us to pray.
As we pray for our children, God connects us to His divine work in them.
As we pray for our children, God connects us to His divine work in them. Luke 1 records Mary, Jesus’ mother, and Elizabeth, the mother of Jesus’ cousin, John, praying during their pregnancies.
Mary and Elizabeth thanked God for their developing children and praised God for His power and provision. These women knew God had planned these babies’ lives even before the babies were conceived.
Just like God had a special plan for Mary and Elizabeth’s sons, He has plans for each one of of us. Psalm 139 says, “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb… I am fearfully and wonderfully made… all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:13-16).
What Do I Pray?
We don’t have to meet our children to begin praying specifically for them. All of us can pray for our children in the following areas:
There is no limit to how often or how specifically we may pray for our children!
Our Prayers Are Part of God’s Miracles
In October 1991, my pregnancy was confirmed. I had already been praying for this possible child, and upon discovering this life was developing in my womb, I began to pray for the baby with almost every breath. I especially prayed for my child’s future spouse, wherever he might be. I prayed that the child would be kept safe and pure, that he would love Jesus first and most.
Fast-forward 24 years, and I now know my daughter’s fiancé, Chris, was 3 months old at that time. Chris’s first few months of life involved some drastic family changes that easily could have hurt him. Baby Chris needed someone praying for him. God led me (and others) to pray for my future son-in-law, because God had big plans for him! God has shaped Chris into an awesome young man who loves and serves Jesus and who will be a wonderful husband to my daughter. God worked through my prayers to include me in His miracles!
Parents, let’s never hesitate to pray for our children—even before they are conceived! God already knows them and has plans for them, and prayer connects us to His miraculous work in their lives.
Looking for specific prayers for kids of any age? Download a daily verse to pray over your kids here.