Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise: “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
Ephesians 6:1-3 (NRSVCE)
What are your earliest memories?
Mine are of rainy kindergarten days and big boots. Of being carried in my dad’s arms and waving goodbye to mom from inside my first classroom.
Surely, yours will be different from mine. But most likely, they will have something to do with your mum and dad.
Our lives begin with our parents. And no matter how old we are, honoring them is a lifelong calling. One of the most powerful ways to honor them and thank God for them is to faithfully lift them up in prayer every day.
And what better way to pray than to use the words of Scripture! Here are 7 scriptural prayers to help you intercede intentionally and consistently for your parents and for different areas of their lives.
Prayers for our parents
For healing and forgiveness
He heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds.
Father, no one knows my parents better than you do. You saw them when they were being formed in their mothers’ wombs. You know the hurts they carry, the wounds that are slow to heal. As a mother comforts her child, you be their comfort O Lord. Bind up their wounds, heal their crushed spirits, wipe every tear from their eyes, and refresh their hearts when they are weary. Help them forgive all who have hurt them, just as you have forgiven them in Christ. May they always be aware of your unfailing love that surrounds them. Amen.
For health and strength
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.
Father, I thank you for my parents. As I pray now for them, I ask you to renew their strength; with you, may they soar on wings like eagles. You are the God who heals them, the one who delivers them from all diseases. Bring health to their body and nourishment to their bones. May they run and not grow weary. May they walk and not grow faint. May they flourish like a palm tree, staying fresh and green and bearing fruit even in their old age. For you are their strength and their shield. In you, may they find healing and restoration, and may they be able to do all things through you, who strengthens them. Amen.
For peace of mind
You, Lord, give perfect peace
to those who keep their purpose firm
and put their trust in you.
Lord, only you know the anxieties of my parents’ hearts. You know the things that rob them of their peace and keep them awake at night. I ask you, dear Lord, send your most Holy Spirit into the places of their deepest worries and bless their hearts and minds with the peace that surpasses understanding. May they know that they have nothing to fear for you are with them. Be the strength of their heart and their potion forever. Turn your face towards them and be gracious to them, so that their hearts may overflow with your peace all the days of their lives. Amen.
For protection
The Lord will protect you from all danger;
he will keep you safe.
Father, I place my parents under your wings. Be their rock and their fortress, protecting them from all harm and danger as they go about their daily activities. Watch over their comings and their goings. May your angel encamp around them and guard them in all their ways. Let no weapon formed against them prosper. I thank you, for you are their shade by day and their protector by night. You are their shield, their strength, and the stronghold of their life. Thank you for keeping them safe. Amen.
For joy, hope, and blessing
May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!
Lord, thank you for the gift of my parents. I ask that you surround them with your presence every day, for in your presence there is fullness of joy. As they go about their daily tasks, may they delight in you and may their lives abound in the fruits of your Holy Spirit. Let your blessing and favor rest upon them in every area of their lives, in their relationships, their work, and their health. Father, fill them with all joy and peace as they trust in you every single day, so that they may overflow with hope by the power of your Spirit. Grant that your goodness may follow them every day of their lives. Amen.
For a steadfast faith
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.
Father, I pray that my parents grow closer to you each day. Although they have much experience and understanding, I ask that they have a childlike faith in you and an unquenchable desire to know you and follow you. May they trust in you in all circumstances, relying on your wisdom rather than their own understanding. May they commit all their plans to you, knowing that you are their ever-present help. O Lord of all grace, grant that even in difficult moments, they may stand firm in the knowledge that you are faithful and that all your promises are true. Amen.
For bearing fruit in God’s kingdom
Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
Father, I ask that my parents may be shining lights in your kingdom. May they give themselves to your work and never grow weary in doing what is good. Let their words and their actions give you glory and draw others to you. May they use their gifts, talents, and time to serve others, as faithful stewards of your grace. Help them reach out to those around them. Make them strong in faith and in service, like trees planted by the waterside, bearing fruit in all seasons. Amen.
Honoring our parents through prayer
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to ask your parents if they have any specific needs that you could pray for. Often, this opens up topics that may not have otherwise surfaced. It also lets them know how much you care for their well-being. Always a happy thought for a parent!
Once you know their needs, go ahead and make these prayers your own. Cover your parents in prayer every day of their lives. Taking their requests to God is undoubtedly one of the most loving and wonderful ways to honor them and serve them.
In faith,
