Eight Powerful Prayers for Teens & Tweens

This is a two-part post. Read Part 1 of this series here, if you haven't already.

Teenage — what’s the big deal? Been there, done that, right?

Partly true.

The world today is radically different. The pressure, amplified. Teens today face a wave of new challenges: digital dangers, increased academic stressors, and global instability (both geopolitical and climatic).

Every generation of teens and tweens has had someone to step in for them — parents, godparents, mentors, a caring adult.

Someone stood in the gap for you and me, too. Now, it’s our turn to pay it forward.

Praying for the world around them

In Part 1, we prayed for our teens’ hearts and minds — for peace, confidence, and wisdom. In Part 2, we widen the lens. We pray for everything that surrounds them.

We can’t control all that they come up against. And we shouldn’t. But we can surely ask the Lord to go before them, to shield them, and to fight for them.

Here are five ways we can pray for every youth God places in our path.

PROTECTION, from harmful influences: Music, media, reels, trends, peers. All these present teens with messages — some subtle, some loud. While some may be good and true, many others twist truth and normalize sin.

Prayer
Lord, cover them under Your wings. Be their refuge and fortress — guard them from anything or anyone who pulls them away from You. Cut off any influence that doesn’t align with Your truth. In a world that blurs the lines between truth and falsehood, be their clear vision. Shield them from the flaming arrows of temptation. Give them the strength to stand tall and say, “No,” when the world says, “Why not?” Fortify their minds. Keep them protected and set apart for You. Amen.
Scriptures: Psalm 91:4, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Ephesians 6:16

GODLY FRIENDSHIPS that build them up: Teenage friendships are powerful. They wield tremendous influence over the choices our teens make, shaping their values, beliefs, and identity. Friends can either steer teens toward God or away from Him.

Prayer
Lord, surround them with friends who speak life. Friends who love You deeply and love them well. Friends who reflect Your kindness, honesty, and faithfulness. Friends who will sharpen them in faith and will challenge them to grow in grace rather than to conform. Help them be that kind of friend, too. Let them not be misled by anyone or mislead anyone. Help them speak encouragement, not gossip. In a world of shallow connections, give them Kingdom friendships that last. Amen.
Scriptures: Proverbs 27:17, Proverbs 13:20, 1 Corinthians 15:33

CARING MENTORS they can turn to: Many teens feel misunderstood. They struggle quietly, not knowing whom to turn to and what to say. Parents, teachers, and mentors play a significant role; they can either lift a teen up or unknowingly push them into silence. The right presence, the right listening ear, the right words, can make all the difference.

Prayer
Father, surround our teens with caring adults – parents, teachers, mentors, coaches – who care deeply for them. People who will build them up, not tear them down. Raise up parents and mentors who lead by example, showing integrity, goodness, and humility in all they do. Who set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Help our teens seek good counsel and turn for help to those who love You and will lead them to You. Amen.
Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Titus 2:7, 1 Timothy 4:12

DIGITAL SAFETY: Teens are online more than they are outside. These digital spaces offer connection and community but they are rife with real risks too. From cyberbullying to explicit content and online predators, teens face potential dangers with every scroll, click, and message.

Prayer
Father, as our teens and tweens navigate the virtual world, be their defender and protector in every space they enter. Guard them from toxic content, predators, and bullies who could tear them apart. Shut down any digital weapon that the enemy tries to use against them. Keep them safe from all hidden dangers and all deadly digital diseases that seek to destroy their self-worth. When lies are spoken, speak Your truth to them. When darkness lurks, shine Your light to overcome the darkness. Give them wisdom that goes beyond their age. Amen.
Scriptures: Psalm 91:2-3, Isaiah 54:17, John 1:5

HOPE, for the future: Uncertainty is growing around the world, from worries about jobs and rising costs, to climate change and political instability. Teens aren’t blind to this. Many are unsure about what lies ahead and what the future looks like for their generation. They don’t just need comfort. They need hope — the real kind. The kind that does not depend on circumstances, but on a faithful God who never changes.

Prayer
Father, plant Your hope deep in their hearts. When they are unsure about what lies ahead, remind them that You already hold tomorrow. Each day as they wake, give them joy in knowing that those who hope in You will renew their strength and never grow weary. When world events and job uncertainties overwhelm them, remind them that You have plans to prosper them. Give them a faith so BIG that they have confidence in things hoped for, conviction in things not seen, and belief in a future that you have planned for them. Amen.
Scriptures: Isaiah 40:31, Jeremiah 29:11, Hebrews 11:1

Let’s fight for them

A friend recently lost a teen very close to her — a happy-on-the outside boy who took his life.

It’s time we woke up to the worldwide phenomenon that is quietly unfolding across screens and campuses: Teens who post cool selfies and punchy status updates but aren’t sure who they are and if they fit in.

Let’s not sit back and watch. But get down on our knees and pray. Often.

Speak these prayers over your children as they sleep. Let them rise up in your hearts as you see teens and tweens walk by, swipe their phones, play a match, or sit in church. Your whispered prayers can break strongholds and lift them up.

Let’s be a generation that stands in the gap for the next one, with our hearts open and hands lifted up. A generation that shows up for our young people — quietly, compassionately, faithfully — building them up one prayer at a time.

Let’s make prayer our first move, not our last resort.