The Bible calls us to honor our parents—and one way we can do that is by praying for them. This five-day guide will help you to pray rich, intentional prayers for your mother or father—be they biological or adoptive, involved or inattentive, loving or cold, frail or fit, believers or unbelievers. Whatever their situation or posture toward us, if we want to love them well, we need to pray.
The Good Book
Day 1
Scripture: John 3:16-21
Praying that God Will Save My Parents
Father, you are the God who saves. Please help my parents to…
Know God’s love
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16).
God’s love toward our parents is deep, steadfast, and pure. Our own love for them pales in comparison. Pray that your mom and dad would look at Christ’s sacrifice and know how much God loves them. Thank him for loving you with this same love too.
Believe in Jesus
“… that whoever believes in him…” (John 3:16).
Do your parents believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation? If they do, praise God for saving them from their sin. If they don’t, pray boldly in the power of the Holy Spirit and the name of Jesus that God would cause their hearts to believe. Ask God to give you opportunities and courage to share your faith with them.
Not perish
“… shall not perish…” (John 3:16).
Whether we’re believers or not, we all have to face the fact that our earthly bodies will eventually perish. Pray that your parents would have a growing sense of their own mortality—causing them to soberly contemplate what comes after the grave and swiftly run to Jesus to escape the sting of eternal death.
Have eternal life
“… but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Christ died for our sins so that, if we believe in him, we might live with God and enjoy him forever in heaven. Pray that your parents would take hold of this promise and allow it to impact the way they live out the rest of their days on this earth as well.
Come to the light
“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” (John 3:21).
Those who live in the truth of the gospel—the good news that Jesus died for our sins—don’t need to fear the light. What things from your parents’ past or present might cause them to shrink back into the shadows? Pray that they would confidently come into the light, where sin is exposed, shame flees, and good works shine bright for God’s glory.
Day 2
Scripture: Psalms 90:12-17
Praying that God Will Give Them Purpose
Lord, you created my parents to enjoy and glorify you. I ask you to…
Humble them
“Teach us to number our days” (Psalm 90:12).
When we “number our days,” we realize that our time on earth is limited. This could have a paralyzing effect on some, but pray instead that it would propel your parents to humbly acknowledge our everlasting God and to live out the remainder of their days in his service.
Have compassion
“Have compassion on your servants” (Psalm 90:13).
How much we all need God’s compassion! We belong to him, but we usurp his purpose for our lives and selfishly labor for our own success and glory instead. Take a moment to confess your own idolatry to the Lord. Then ask him to convict your parents of their sin and to have mercy on you all.
Satisfy their souls
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love” (Psalm 90:14).
The world offers our parents a smorgasbord of goodies that promise to satisfy them. They’re told that this cruise, this magic pill, this retirement village will make them happy, but the Bible says that true satisfaction comes from God. Pray that your parents would be satisfied in him and that they would know his unfailing love day by day.
Show your deeds
“May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children” (Psalm 90:16).
The work of redemption is God’s most marvelous deed. If your parents are God’s servants, marvel at the saving work Christ accomplished on their behalf. If they are not his servants, pray that he would allow you to behold his splendor as you watch him do a work in their hearts that only he can do.
Establish their work
“Establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17).
Think about the work your parents do each day. Whether they work with their hands, sit at a desk, or volunteer in retirement, ask God to make their work fruitful—not for their own personal gain or praise, but for the good of their fellow man and the glory of God.
Day 3
Scripture: Psalms 25:14-18
Praying When My Parents Are Feeling Lonely
Heavenly Father, when my parents feel alone, please grant them…
Friendship
“The Lord confides in those who fear him” (Psalm 25:14).
Why might your parents be feeling lonely? Perhaps they’re far from loved ones, living alone, sick in a hospital bed, missing old friends, estranged from family, or unable to keep up with conversations like they used to. Pray that God would be a faithful friend to them in the midst of their loneliness.
Grace
“Turn to me and be gracious to me” (Psalm 15:16).
People may turn away from us, but God graciously turns toward his children. Pray that your mom and dad would grasp the depth of God’s love toward them and receive it with grateful hearts. Thank him for being gracious to you too.
Comfort
“For I am lonely and afflicted” (Psalm 25:16).
David first spoke these words, but they were fulfilled in King Jesus who was despised and rejected by the very people he came to save. Pray that your parents would find comfort in Christ and draw near to God through him. Ask your heavenly Father to reveal how you might also be a comfort to your parents in their loneliness; pray for strength to love them well.
Relief
“Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish” (Psalm 25:17).
Loneliness can take a toll on our hearts and minds—causing us to believe Satan’s lies or doubt God’s love for us. Pray that God would free your parents from any anxiety or anguish they may be experiencing and that they would cast their cares upon the Lord.
Mercy
“Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins” (Psalm 25:18).
Sometimes we bring isolation upon ourselves through the choices we make. Pray that the Spirit would convict your parents of any sinful patterns that may be contributing to their loneliness and prompt them to seek forgiveness from God and others. If your parents have sinned toward you, ask God to give you a posture of humility and mercy toward them so that you’re ready to forgive as Christ has forgiven you.
Day 4
Scripture: Psalms 100
Praying that I Will Give Thanks
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for you are…
Our maker
“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his” (Psalm 100:3).
God took such care in creating you—ordaining each of your days and intricately knitting you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16). Give thanks for the man and woman he brought together to give you life. Thank him not only for making you but for making you his.
Our shepherd
“We are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3).
Jesus is a good Shepherd. Thank him for calling you by name and for willingly laying down his life for you, his sheep. Reflect on how he has led you, protected you, restored you, and comforted you throughout your life—sometimes by way of your mother and father—and give thanks.
Good
“For the Lord is good” (Psalm 100:5).
We have a good Father who gives us good gifts. Bless him for generously pouring out his grace and mercy on you through his son, Jesus Christ. Thank him for blessing you with adoption, redemption, forgiveness, and a guaranteed inheritance. In addition to these spiritual blessings, express your gratitude for the good gifts he has given you by the hands of your parents as well; thank him for a few specifically.
Steadfast in love
“His love endures forever” (Psalm 100:5).
When human love waivers, God’s love endures. Thank him for loving you so much that he has called you his child and for promising never to let anyone snatch you out of his hand (John 10 v 29).
Faithful
“His faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:5).
The Lord has been faithful to your parents’ generation, he is faithful to your generation, and he will continue to be faithful to future generations. Thanks be to God! Take a moment to recall specific instances of God’s faithfulness toward you and your family. Then as the psalmist writes, “Shout for joy to the Lord … Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs” (Psalm 100:1-2).
Day 5
Scripture: Romans 12:9-21
Praying that I Will Love My Parents
God, I want to love my parents well. Supply the grace I need to…
Honor
“Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).
In the Old Testament, the word honor means to “give weight.” Ask God to help you honor your parents by giving them the proper weight in your heart and life. Pray that you would reflect our merciful Savior, who honored us by seating us in the heavenly places with Christ, despite our sinful state (Ephesians 2:5-6).
Pray
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
You’re in a position to be one of your parents’ biggest prayer advocates. Ask God to help you love your parents by continuing to intercede for them before the throne of grace. In what particular areas do your parents need your faithful prayer? Bring those requests before God now, and praise him for hearing you.
Welcome
“Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13).
Thank God for welcoming you into his family and inviting you to sit at his table. Ask him to show you ways in which you can welcome your parents into your home and life. Pray that you would be willing to sacrifice your time, resources, and comfort out of love for God and your parents.
Bless
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14).
Whether you have a great relationship with your parents or a troubled one, pray God’s blessing upon them. Ask the Lord to make his face shine upon them and to grant them grace and peace. Thank God for your parents—and for the other parental figures in your life—recalling specific ways God has used this generation to minister to you.
Live at peace
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).
As Christians, we’re called to follow Christ’s example by living at peace with everyone—including family!— as far as it depends on us. Thankfully, we don’t have to muster up peace in our own strength. The Prince of Peace equips us to make peace with others. Ask him to grant you peace today.