4 Important Prayers to Lift Up for Teenagers

Quite a few parents say they are exhausted from dealing with their teenage children them. Because of their easily offended nature, their tendency to exaggerate problems, and how often they make unwise decisions. It must be admitted, raising teenagers is not easy. This may be what you are feeling right now, so that you are beginning to give up and say, “That’s it, whatever I do is useless.”

When you are tempted to give up, know this: you must stop relying on yourself. Ask the Lord for help, and then, from people who understand proper parenting. 

 

However, it is important to understand that asking the Lord for help means you must pray for your teenagers. Perhaps you have already prayed that they would excel at school, be surrounded by good friends, and always be healthy. But is that enough?

Inspired by Jesus’ prayer for His disciples in John 17, here are three prayers that are important for parents to lift up for their teenagers:

1. To Know God

And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. – John 17:3

Praying that your children would know or fear the Lord may sound ordinary, but it is actually very fundamental.

Teenagers tend to be harder to direct than young children. Moreover, they are beginning to dare to rebel against instruction. What is wrong with them? It may be because they do not feel accepted enough by their parents. Or they may be searching for their identity, which is usually accompanied by a desire to think independently. It may also be because they do not yet know the true God.

If this is what is happening, it is very important for them to know the Lord and His character. The God who loves them with unconditional love. Knowing God’s character makes them feel safe in Him.

As a parent of a teenager, I often worry: what if I fail to bring my child to the Lord? My great hope is that one day he will become a disciple of Jesus. This is the longing I always pray for. If you have the same longing, let us keep praying for our children.

2. To Receive God’s Wisdom

I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours. – John 17:9

Wisdom is the discernment to consider whether something comes from God or from the world. As it is written in the book of Proverbs, all wisdom must come from a heart that fears the Lord. The collection of wise sayings in Proverbs mostly comes from King Solomon, who was well known for the wisdom he received by asking God for it.

Why should we ask for wisdom for our teenagers? Because they need it to face life’s challenges. Moreover, at every moment, the world continues to influence their minds and hearts with all kinds of information that is easily accessible in the digital age. 

I am sure all of us have gone astray in our teenage years, unable to weigh what is good and right. Of course we do not want our children to repeat similar mistakes. So, just like Solomon, we need to ask God for wisdom for our teenage sons and daughters.

3. To Be Protected from Evil

I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. – John 17:15

Pray that the Lord will protect our teenagers from everything evil. Many teenagers fall into the snare of evil unintentionally. How can they become involved in evil things, or become victims of evil? Perhaps because of the wrong crowd. For example, engaging in bullying (bullying), or on the other hand, having been a victim of bullying.

We cannot watch over our children twenty-four hours a day. While they are at home, we can monitor them. But out there, they are beyond our reach. It is not possible to ask them to stay at home all the time, right? Therefore, let us ask the Lord to protect our children from harm.

4. To Become a Blessing

And I ask not only for these, but also for those who will believe in Me through their message. – John 17:20

Also pray for your teenager that he or she would become a blessing to others. The influence of the world is very strong, and we do not want our children to be swept along by it. Instead, we want them to be able to be a light to others. 

Perhaps we think teaching children about love is enough. We think that with that they will no longer act selfishly. The reality is, only God can change their hearts.

Teenagers can become a blessing to others if they understand that God loves them, and that they must love others. This awareness affects many things. They will honor and obey their parents, love their siblings, show compassion to others, maintain integrity, and make wise decisions.

A simple example is that your child will choose honesty during an exam. He will not give answers to a friend, but will offer to study together before the exam.

As parents, we have many good hopes for our teenagers. To reach all of that, you must entrust them to the Lord’s guidance. While continuing to set an example, pray that your teenager will know the Lord more deeply, have wisdom, and always be protected. Amen!

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