Years ago, someone gave me a list of Scriptures to pray for your children that Mom's In Touch published. The concept of praying the Word over my children has stuck with me ever since.
The Bible tells us that God's Word does not return void, but will accomplish all that it is sent forth to do.
"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11
I believe that when we pray Scripture, it's more effective because God's Word is simply more powerful than our own.
I have found this to be true in experience. Last year, my five-year-old had a terrible habit of whining and being basically sullen most of the time. I began praying Scriptures related to joy and peace for her. I typed them up on little cards that I put in my car and in my Bible. Whenever I picked up my Bible, I would pray for her joy. When I was sitting in traffic, I would pray the Scriptures for her. Within a week or so, she was back to her joyful, sweet self.
Lately, I have begun praying wisdom and understanding Scriptures for my boys concerning their schoolwork.
Someone once said that when you pray Scripture, it may sound like you praying to you, but it sounds like God to the devil. For the Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than a double edged sword; God's Word will never return void but will accomplish that which God pleases for it to accomplish. (Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 55:11)
Because of this, I have made some special Scripture cards that I am praying over my family. Below are the Scriptures I am praying this month. I have replaced pronouns with parenthesis to insert my children's names.
Let not mercy and truth forsake ( ), bind them around ( )'s neck, write them on the tablet of ( )’s heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Prov 3:4
For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround ( ) with favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:12
( ) He also justified; and whom He justified, ( ) He also glorified. Rom 8:28-30
Teach ( ) Your way, O LORD; ( ) will walk in Your truth; Unite ( )’s heart to fear Your name. Psalm 86:11
( ) will make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man ( ) will not go, lest ( ) learn his ways and set a snare for ( )'s soul. I pray that ( ) will walk with the wise and become wise, and that ( ) will never keep the companionship of fools and be destroyed. Prov 22, Prov 13
I pray that ( ) will never be unequally yoked. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness. And what accord has Christ with Belial. And What part has a believer with an unbeliever? 2 Cor 6:14
I pray that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that (my children) will all speak the same thing, and that there be no division among (them), but that (my children's names) will be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Cor 1:10
Behold how good and pleasant it is for (names of my children) to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1
Blessed are the peacemakers, for (my children) shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9
I pray that ( ) will have the wisdom that comes from above that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by ( ) who makes peace. James 3:17 - 18
