Psalm 72--How to Pray for Your Children

If you are a parent, most likely you have spent a lot of time praying for your children no matter their age. If you are like me, you probably have found yourself praying for your children all throughout the day. And if you are like me, most of those prayers were for immediate things—for that algebra test they are taking, the relationship problem they are encountering, the new opportunity they have, the decision they need to make and so forth. But how often do we pray for our children from a big-picture perspective? That is what struck me as I read Psalm 72 today. This was David’s prayer for his son Solomon who would follow him as king of Israel. Scholars would be quick to point out that this Psalm also foreshadows Christ as the King of kings, and that’s true. But for today, let’s use it to focus on six things we should pray for our children:

1. Pray for their character (verse 1). A life filled with both the justice of God and the righteousness of God will handle any situation the right way.
   
   
2. Pray for them to make a difference with their lives (verses 2-4, 12, 13, 14). That starts with them being others’ focused and continues as they look for ways to make a positive impact on other people.
   
   
3. Pray for their success (verses 5-8). There is nothing wrong with praying that they will succeed in whatever endeavors God leads them into! Pray that they will learn the lessons they need to learn and make the right kinds of decisions so that they can be successful.
   
   
4. Pray that they will be respected (verses 9-11). Pray that they will live lives worthy of the respect of others. Pray that they will treat others in such a way and have the kind of work ethic that others will want to honor.
   
   
5. Pray for their legacy (verses 15-18). Most of us don’t even think about our own legacy, let alone our kids, but we should. Pray that your children will leave a lasting legacy that impacts the generation that follows them.
   
   
6. Pray that they will praise (verses 18-20). Pray that they will be true worshippers of the Lord who recognize Him in everything and lavishly bestow their praise on Him.

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 So today, Amber and Jacob, I prayed these verses over you. I prayed that your character will be marked with godliness, that you will make a difference in this world, that you will succeed in your life calling, that you will earn the respect of others, that you will impact your children and grandchildren for Christ, and that you will live a life of praise to God’s glory. Just like I prayed for you before you were even born, I will continue to pray for you each day that you will reach your full potential in Christ. I love you! --Dad