Oh Baby: 14 Devotions for New Parents

Scripture: Psalms 127:3

You’ve Got This

Children are a blessing and a gift from the LORD. PSALM 127:3 CEV 

Long before the creation of the world, God chose your child to be conceived at this time in history – to the parents that He picked, purposed, and prepared for the job. 

While the discovery of pregnancy is sometimes a tear-jerking, wonderful experience for parents—and sometimes painful and sometimes awe-inspiring—God is never, ever surprised. He knew it all along. 

Whether a child has been longed for, for many years or comes as a sweet surprise, a child is most certainly a gift. Psalm 127 celebrates the ways that God blesses a home with protection, provision—and kids! Children are intended to strengthen, bless, and fill a family with love. And if we believe that God’s intentions are for the absolutely wonderful, then we can be confident that He will give us everything we need to thrive—not just survive—as a family. 

Hang onto the promise that God not only made your baby happen, but He did it on purpose—whether He has honored your prayers or given you a gift you weren’t even asking for. He is providing for your new little one with His very best resources. And remember, nerves are normal! Unknowns are expected! Excitement is inevitable, especially as you cradle your tiny person in your arms, knowing your baby will need you to love with a kind of love, and an amount of love you may not even think you have quite yet. God is waiting to give you all you need, every day, every step of the way. And no matter what, you can be sure that He’s even more excited than you are to watch the beautiful story of your family unfold. 

Prayer: 

Father, thank You for Your faith in us as parents and Your faith in our family. You know even better than we do what we are capable of, and we will cling to You as we seek to train up this child in Your ways. Shepherd us as parents, even as we shepherd this child, along the journey to discover You as Lord and Savior.

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:5

Your Prayers Make a Difference

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. JEREMIAH 1:5 NIV 

The idea of being fully responsible for a tiny human can be overwhelming, especially if you haven’t been in that position before! It’s hard to know where to begin. But one of the most powerful things a parent can do for their child is simply to pray for them. Every day, even long before you meet your little one, your prayers are acknowledged before God. 

No one in the world sees your kids like you do. No one can pray with the same insights or observations. And a parent’s prayer certainly blesses God’s heart. After all, He invites us as parents to communicate the same selfless love that He has for us. And because He knows we’re ill-equipped to do that apart from Him, He makes Himself highly available for that very purpose. As we seek Him in parenting, He pours out His most Fatherly love over us and our family. He puts people in our lives who can love, mentor, encourage, and build us on the adventure. He helps us with creative problem-solving, late nights, and more grace than we can measure. 

Prayer is effective because He not only listens to us, but He also responds and tells us great and unsearchable things (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV). As the Artist and Creator of your little one, He put every single cell together in a very intentional way. Your baby’s genetic makeup, likes and dislikes, quirks and strengths, passions and purpose are recorded in His notes. He can give you one-of-a-kind direction on how to shepherd your child through all the stages of adolescence. He chose your child for such a time as this. (He chose you for such a time, too.) So there’s no better place to turn as you embark on the adventure of loving this little one to, and through, life. 

And as your life points to God, through prayer and the fruit of your relationship with Him, you’ll be the very best arrow for your child to find Him, too. 

Prayer: 

Knowing how intentional You are about Your children is so comforting, God. And I know You can teach me to be intentional in prayer with You for this family. As I seek You, I know I’ll find You. And that partnership is priceless.

Scripture: Psalms 91:1-2

You Are Not Alone

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” PSALM 91:1–2 NIV

It can start in the first weeks of pregnancy. It grows in the delivery room and repeats multiple times throughout a child’s life: an internal cry that says, “I can’t do this!” Have you been there? More than likely, your heart will echo this more than once during your parenting journey.

It doesn’t always matter whether you have a supportive spouse or family nearby. Sometimes you can be well-connected and still feel alone. Other times, your aloneness stems from being a single parent or the one who is home with the kids most of the day or night. The transition is normal. You may have been someone who thrived on long hikes through nature. You may have relied heavily on a dynamic network of social activities. But all of that changes when a baby comes! It’s inevitable! Your preferences and personality don’t change, but your outlets for those things suddenly become much less available.

While it’s true that our lifestyle takes a sharp right turn when a baby comes, the best news is that God does not change. He is the one constant through it all, supporting you and loving you exactly the same on this side of parenthood as He did on that side. It may take longer than you’d like to discover your new dynamic with Him. But if you continue to trust and take it one day at a time, you will find that His hand never lets go of yours.

Psalm 91 is a resource for any struggling new parent. David experienced the highest of highs (think of killing a giant and saving a nation) and the lowest of lows (as a murderer and conspirator whose firstborn son died in infancy). He learned through his life to cry out to God in need and to proclaim the truth of who God really is. Psalm 91 declares those truths and promises. When you feel alone and overwhelmed, consider turning to Psalm 91 and remembering what is true.

Prayer:

God, I dwell in Your shelter and find my rest in You. You alone are my refuge and place of safety. You are my God, and I trust You. 

Scripture: Isaiah 54:3

You Have a Good Legacy

You shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations. ISAIAH 54:3 NKJV

Kids are, by design, legacy bearers. Everything from genetics to geographical accent can be passed from one generation to another. Depending on your family situation, the knowledge that you can pass on things to your kids is either exciting or terrifying. Fortunately, God is the legacy maker. A parenting partnership with God will strengthen your good legacies and redeem the bad.

Sakura grew up with an alcoholic father. The history of abuse, pain, and confusion from her own childhood was enough to make her worry about raising healthy children. Could she impart pure love to her daughter when her own childhood was full of trauma? And would she, when things got tough, use alcohol to solve her problems? She was advised by a pastor friend to pour out her concerns to God and then leave them at His feet. As her daughter grew, never once did Sakura repeat the example her father set for her as a child. Instead, when times were hard, she prayed and she carried God’s peace. The best part is, that Sakura doesn’t worry that her daughter will carry on a legacy of destruction. The cycle is broken.

Derek’s grandfather started a heating and cooling company in the 1920s. Derek would toddle around the storefront as a boy while his dad and grandpa worked in the machine shop and his mom helped customers. He loved growing up in a family that worked together, but when he went to college he decided to take a different path from the family business. His degree in psychology and a satisfying marketing career have little to do with the shop his great-grandfather started. But from his family, Derek had learned important values: hard work, together time, adapting to change, and showing excellence and kindness toward people. Derek defines his career and family life as successful.

Whatever your legacy, the Lord will lead you in healing from your past and passing on the good. When you lean, He leads. That’s a promise.

Prayer: 

Father, thank You for making me part of a legacy worth passing on. And today I trust You with the parts I would rather not share with my children. Make us a family that glorifies You—through our healing, our growth, and our love for You.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10

You Are the Best Parent for Your Child

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. EPHESIANS 2:10 NIV

Social media is quick to tell us that we just don’t compare to other parents. By the look of people’s kids and puppies, everyone else’s lives are nearly perfect. As we scroll along, enviously noting their sunny vacations, intimate together times, masterfully plated meals, constantly clean clothes, and well-behaved siblings, we glance up at the dish-covered sink and crumb-covered counter. We notice that the baby left a vomit stain on one shoulder and we forgot to change our shirt before the video call we had for work.

The truth is, that people rarely memorialize their less-than-perfect times on their social pages. And in much the same way, the world rarely sees the insecurities and worries we face every time we lay our head on the pillow at night. We judge others by their neatly trimmed outer lives, and we judge ourselves by our messy, disorganized, emotional insides. That, friend, is not apples to apples.

But the greater truth? You. Are. Enough. There is no better parent for your child than you. No one’s education would enable them to raise your child with more beneficial expertise. No one’s hug would feel better to your child than yours. No one’s broccoli cuts or buttered noodles would taste better to your child—not really. Because you were created for this family, for this time, with this child.

Sure, everyone can learn and grow. There may be books worth reading and experts worth following. There are friends or family members worth observing in their strengths as parents. But what your child needs most is the vessel through which all of that love was made to be channeled—you.

Don’t let anyone ever tell you that parenting isn’t a ministry or a purpose. You were designed to pour into your kids for God’s glory. He prepared you for this family, and He prepared this family for you. Your child will thrive as you share yourself—your whole, imperfect, beautiful self.

Prayer:

God, I believe You have made me just the right parent for my child. I acknowledge that I have many shortcomings and that I need You every day in order to do this. But in my weakness, You are strong. And I’m willing to do this together with You!

Scripture: Proverbs 17:6

You Make Your Child Better

Parents are the pride of their children. PROVERBS 17:6 NIV

You are the right parent for your child. All of your gifts, personality traits, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses line up with who your child needs you to be. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a ton of room for every parent to grow. But it does mean that there’s nothing innately wrong with you that will scar your child for life!

When children are young, they think the world of their parents. They don’t know any better—they even think dad jokes are funny. They willingly accept their mother’s hugs and kisses. Children learn how to play, dream, process, and interact in their home setting. It’s not until years later when they become more self-aware and understand that there are as many different ways to live as there are people on the planet, that it becomes natural to question what they know. At that point, parents may become “uncool” as the young person finds their way in the world.

Jesus didn’t change Himself in order to please others. He was, arguably, the most controversial person in history. He stuck to His guns as His Father’s Son, loving the unlovable and teaching the truth. Imagine what would have happened if He had listened to the naysayers! What if He had backed down when it got hard, running away and refusing to submit to the process of dying on the cross so that we could live? That would have been the end of humanity. But instead, Jesus accepted His identity, rejoiced when people chose Him, and interceded on behalf of those who haven’t.

You will most definitely waver between being the best and the worst parent ever throughout your child’s life. But truth be told, you—just by being you—make your child a better person. As you follow the Lord in parenting, you are adding to the wonderful testimony and legacy of your children.

Prayer: 

Father, make me the kind of parent who brings joy to my children. Help me to stay consistent and strong like Jesus, even when we struggle as a family. I know that in the end, we are meant to be together for Your glory.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:6

You are Brave

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. DEUTERONOMY 31:6 NIV

The book of Acts tells of Lydia, a successful business owner in the male-dominated Roman Empire. A dealer of purple cloth in Thyatira, Lydia was not unique in her trade but certainly a pioneer in her personal life. And although little is known about her family and household, we do know that she took in Paul and Silas after they had been jailed, she made the leap of faith to embrace Christianity, and her house may have served as a center for Christian work. Each of these decisions was risky on her part but also part and parcel of the entrepreneurial spirit she surely possessed.

Being brave requires faith, and having faith requires bravery. What does the Bible urge us to do, again and again, in the face of fear? To trust in the Lord. God gave every parent the capacity for bravery. But true godly bravery means living according to what God alone tells us. That means putting our faith in God and putting His plans for us and our family first, above anything else.

Your own version of “brave” probably doesn’t look the same as anybody else’s. Homeschooling may scare some parents and delight others. Having one child may be overwhelming to some, while having six or seven is another person’s limit. Being courageous is not about seeking sameness but simply about seeking. It’s also about pushing away envy and jealousy over things that have nothing to do with you. That exercise requires you to be brave with your life.

These days, every friend, family member, or follower has an opinion on what you show the world. But when one person steps into their calling with courage, they pave the way for others to follow. An act of courage is a bold move forward that can make life uncomfortable, if only for a while, for anybody who undertakes it—but it is a move forward.

Prayer:

God, I believe that if You command something in the Bible, then You give us the capacity to obey. So when You call us to courage, You know that we are capable! Parenting can be scary, but You are our peace. I trust You as I continue forward bravely in parenthood.

Scripture: James 4:8

Someone is Praying for You

Come near to God and He will come near to you. JAMES 4:8 NIV

Parenthood comes in a blur of emotion. It’s awe at the tiny miracle wrapped in your arms. It’s overwhelm at all there is to learn and the incredible importance of keeping a baby person alive under your watch. It can be loneliness—of navigating new parenthood without the help of family … or of being the only one in your age group with a baby. It can be desperation at translating the cries of a newborn or at needing more than four hours of sleep each night. It can also be joy—so much joy, interspersed between the hard—bursting like fireworks as your baby smiles for the first time or learns to sit up or eats her first spoonful of peas.

Nobody, repeat that: nobody knows how to parent before they become parents. All the observations in the world, all the social media experts, all the advice in books or over the phone cannot prepare a parent for their child. Because your journey is your own, it can feel so isolated. And those feelings can be exacerbated by well-meaning people assuring you that time flies, and to enjoy it while you can, and just wait until she’s a teenager or flying the coop.

But you can find confidence in this: there are people praying for you. Jesus Himself is before the throne of the Father, speaking on your behalf. Your prayers matter to Him. He knows what isolation and overwhelm feel like. And He will be the first to tell you, this is a season. An important season that is growing you, maturing you, enriching you, and blessing you in ways beyond anything you can imagine right now.

There are times in life when we walk more by faith than others. The foggy, sleepless, strange, new parenthood time is one of them. Be blessed, and know that this time will soon become one of the richest memories you’ll carry for the rest of your life.

Prayer:

Father, I will remember that You see me even when I feel invisible. I will wake up each day with the hope of feeling You near, partnering with me as I learn to parent this tiny gift.

Scripture: Psalms 18:6

God Hears Your Prayers

I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from His sanctuary. PSALM 18:6 NLT 

Our children’s lives are changed forever when we pray. God hears our cries. He hears our hearts. Lay your hand on your baby each night while they sleep, praying blessings and hopes, and God hears. Cry out in pain to Him when you see your child making wrong decisions, and He hears. Your heartfelt prayers for protection or of thanks for who your beautiful child is, and is becoming, are heard by God. He delights in them. It strengthens not only your child’s life but also your own relationship with God when you pray. 

The gap between our lips and God’s ears is the shortest distance in all of creation. And not only does He hear us, but I John 5:14–15 reminds us that when we ask according to His will, we have what we’ve asked for. “God, I want my child to follow You all the days of her life.” His will. “Father, comfort my child as he works out a tough problem at school.” His will. We cry out, God hears, and He sees to it. We may not always be there, available and able to hold our child’s hand through every circumstance, but we can place our child in His hands. Through the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit, our prayer is more effective than any earthly thing we can do. 

Prayer is not a last resort. It’s a first line of defense for anything you or your family may go through. Perhaps this is a reason newborns are up at night for feedings and changes? It’s an opportunity to put into place the very important habit of praying over your child. There’s not much else to do at two in the morning, after all! Use the downtime to focus on the sweetness of your new baby and ask the Lord how to cover your child in prayer. There’s literally no better investment you could make from day one. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for designing me to be stronger through prayer with You, and thank You that my prayers can effectively grow my baby into a stronger person for Your glory. Hold my baby close to Your heart, and teach me how to pray as effectively as possible.

Scripture: Psalms 127:3

Relish Your Moments

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from Him. PSALM 127:3 NLT 

Before you know it, you’ll look back and wonder where the time went. It will all seem like a flash of diaper changing, nursing, potty training, first days of school, holidays, birthdays, and summer breaks. Amid all the highlights and memories will be the ordinary, every day days … the ones when it seems that no one slept through the night or everyone forgot their homework or lunch …when naptime is held as carefully as gold and bedtime is secretly anticipated. Because even though you love your kids with every fiber of your being, for heaven’s sake, a small break just to think without interruptions would be stellar. You’ll remember that moment when you looked into the eyes of your child and felt that you couldn’t love him or her more, only to find out a few minutes later that he or she had managed to destroy something you thought was unbreakable while you were in that luxurious three-minute shower. 

Every season of parenthood carries its own challenges, but it will fly by. The very best thing to do is savor every moment as much as you are able. Relish the sweet quiet times, the rowdy fun times, the hard grumpy times. Because simply having those times means that you have children—gifts from the Lord, truly. 

And you know what? You’ve got this! The Lord is on your side. There is no need to be afraid. God has gifted this child or these children to you and He will never leave you to do it all alone. Your reward is in heaven. While you can’t know the full effect you are having on each child each day, the efforts you are making to parent well do not go unnoticed by your heavenly Father. He loves your babies even more than you do, and He loves the work you are doing to raise them well. Love on. Pray on. Heaven is going to be such an incredible revelation. 

Prayer: 

God, there is so much ahead that I don’t know about yet. But with You, it will be fun. It will be possible. It will be hard and amazing and wonderful. Go before me to make a way, and I’ll follow You on this adventure of parenthood!

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:5

You’re Ready for This

It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. II CORINTHIANS 3:5 CSB 

You are not alone in the important endeavor of parenting. You may feel as if you’re alone. You may not have a partner or a supportive family. You may live far away from those who could offer hands-on help and encouragement, but God is with you wherever you are, in whatever you’re facing. He is faithful, and He will see you through. 

If you’re drowning in your circumstances, trust that the Lord is there to help you. Push away the panic and acknowledge that He knows what He’s doing. Once you relax and let Him take over, you’ll be surprised at how quickly life feels manageable again. Worry is a drain on your precious reserves of time, energy, and emotional strength. How much better it is to talk over those worries with God and let Him keep watch. 

You don’t have to know everything there is to know about being a parent. I promise. God has placed certain instincts within you, instincts that surface once you relax and let them flow naturally. You’re already more equipped than you think. And it’s important to remember that God made you. That’s right, you are His creation, and He knows you inside out and backward. If you need strength after a long night, He will bolster you. If you need insight, He’s the fountain of all baby knowledge. Sometimes He will provide what you need by sending someone your way, and sometimes He will help you reach deep inside and find what you need to get the job done. 

Being a new parent can be stressful under any circumstances, but at the same time, it is a time you will deeply cherish as you look back. You will be able to experience it just once with the child you are now holding. Be comforted by the Bible, God’s Word, and allow Him to help you enjoy every moment.

Prayer: 

Guide me in Your truth, Lord. Lead me to the Scriptures that best capture Your heart for me in this season so that I can remain strong as a parent and as Your child.

Scripture: 1 John 3:1

You are Seen

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! I JOHN 3:1 NIV 

You are a parent in your own unique way. No one parents exactly like you, and for that reason, you are uniquely suited to parent your child. You are the knower of small things, of favorites and things not-so-loved. You can empower with a word. You can heal with a hug. You can calm with a look. At times, you struggle to find power and purpose in what you do, feeling unimportant and unimpressive. It’s easy to look for affirmation that may never come from your spouse, kids, coworkers, or friends. It’s a good thing we have a God who adores and affirms parents. 

We have a God who sees parenthood as a valuable calling and, in His wisdom, gifts us individually. He delights in you personally. He has paired you and prepared you, equipped you and called you, and dressed you in His finest armor to face the day with joy. You have no idea how much you influence your world. 

God. Delights. In. You. Yep, you. You, who are weary. You, who are a parent to children not of your blood. You, in the office cubicle. You, who diligently serves on church committees or community groups. You, who loves being a parent. You are beloved to Him. God delights in His children. The end. 

When you feel the weight of not knowing whether you make a difference … when you feel the tedium of another day of the same things … when you feel the heat of trying to do the very best you can for your family … God sees it all and reassures you: Count it all joy, child. I see you. I know you. I can’t wait for you to feel the warmth of My acceptance of you in all its fullness. In the meantime, take comfort in the peace that passes understanding. You are right where you belong—in this home, with this family, and in My heart. 

Prayer: 

It’s easy to lose sight of the incredible gift of Your love, Lord—especially in the mire of everyday life. The enemy tries to keep us foggy and unsure. But I know that You are right behind me, clear as day, saying, “This is the way—walk in it.” Fight for my family, Lord, as You promised.

Scripture: Mark 9:37

Your Child is a Gift From God

Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in My name welcomes Me. MARK 9:37 CSB 

In some ways, life gets more complicated with a baby. Free time is no longer your own. Logistics and schedules become a way of life. But in other ways, a baby changes everything for the simpler. There’s something downright spiritual about snuggling a newborn asleep on your chest. And you have no choice but to go at the speed of your baby’s development—with eating, with diapers, with tummy time and rolling over and giggles and all the milestones we’ve been trained to look for. With a baby in the picture, we begin to see life in its infancy again. When everything feels new to us, and everything is new for the tiny human we’re in charge of, we somehow begin to unhinge from habits and expectations. Our world gets a little smaller—at least for a while—as we focus on what’s right in front of us. 

There’s no mistake that God has designed babies to need us for absolutely everything. He surely knew, when He organized life, that adults would need to be shaken out of their know-it-all stupor from time to time. He knew that we would need to be reminded to slow down and see the simplicity of pure trust. Because babies grow, they become more independent, but they still turn to their parents for help and support. They instinctively know that they need Mama or Daddy and can count on them. And as we watch our little ones discover our love for them, we get to relate it to God’s love for His own children. 

God loves children. He feels very strongly about them—about protecting them, guiding them in His way, and loving them with His whole heart. When He entrusts us with a baby, He gives us a part of Himself. So when we sit with our babies, we would do well to marvel at what He’s given us: the proof that He loves us beyond measure and thinks a lot about our ability to care for what He cares so strongly and passionately for. 

Prayer: 

Father, Your love for me is overwhelming, and I can feel it through the gift of my baby. I commit to loving this child as purely and as deeply as I possibly can, shepherding this gift You’ve given with my whole heart.

Scripture: Psalms 16:6

God’s Joy is Your Strength

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance. PSALM 16:6 NKJV 

Life is a compare-a-thon – like who can outdo whom with their highlight reel, trying to prove to ourselves (because really, no one else cares as much as we do) that we measure up to the ideal image of a family. 

What if life is more about receiving the joy of the Lord for the situation we’ve been given? Consider the Israelites in Nehemiah. They had tried for years to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with no success. Nehemiah was finally able to orchestrate the rebuild. And on the day the people gathered to celebrate, Ezra read Scripture publicly. The people heard all the ways they’d fallen short of God’s glory. They wanted to mourn and grieve. But Ezra commanded them not to. He reminded them that it was a day of celebration, asking the people to see the joy of the Lord as their strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Ezra knew that wallowing in their own shortcomings would solve nothing. Instead, he counted on God’s joy to sustain them. Calling on joy would cause them to think more like God, serving those who were in need. 

Living in joy allows us to see life through God’s eyes. Where comparing and envy keep us from moving forward, joy allows us to leap. Joy allows us to love the people we’re with. Joy looks past dust or dirty dishes and sees the home that keeps us safe. Joy is what ultimately shines through our posts, making people wonder what makes our family different even though our circumstances may not be picture-perfect. 

If you’re going to compare, then compare yourself to where you were a year ago. Compare yourself to who you were before you kicked that bad habit or before you chose that new, good habit. Compare life to a few years ago and ask yourself whether you’re headed in the right direction. Be thankful for where you are, what God has given, and especially that sweet new life you get to nurture. Then grab onto the joy and keep on going. 

Prayer: 

God, Your joy is my strength and I will live like I mean it! Teach me to choose Your joy over circumstances, whether good or bad. Teach me to find my worth only in what You think of me. In the name of Jesus, amen.