My daughter turns twenty on Monday. As I’ve reflected on the past two decades of parenting, I spent some time looking through my journals, asking God to give me wisdom and insight as I continue to pray for this grown-up girl of mine. These are some of the prayers and verses I’ve consistently prayed over my daughter for the past twenty years and I hope they will be an encouragement and inspiration to you as you pray for your own girl.
God’s Desires for Her
He Desires a Deep Love from Her
Verse: “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
Prayer: May (your daughter’s name) love the Lord with her whole self, knowing He is her Lord and God.
He Desires Her Life to Shine for Him
Verse: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Prayer: May (your daughter’s name) be a light in the darkness, revealing God’s glory as she lives for Him.
He Desires that She Trust Him with Her Burdens
Verse: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Prayer: May (your daughter’s name) take her burdens to the Lord instead of worrying about them.
He Desires Her Relationships to Sharpen Her
Verse: “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
Prayer: May (your daughter’s name) build friendships with those who will strengthen and sharpen her.
He Desires She Share His Love with Others
Verse: “Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 12:3
Prayer: May (your daughter’s name)’s love for and devotion to the Lord be evident to others.
God’s Promises to Her
He Hears Her Prayers
Verse: “You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:12
Prayer: May (your daughter’s name) be sure that when she prays, the Lord hears her because He cares for her.
He Is Always Near
Verse: “I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you.” (Isaiah 43:2)
Prayer: May (your daughter’s name) know God is with her even when her situation is overwhelming.
He Is Her Refuge
Verse: “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8
Prayer: May (your daughter’s name) trust that God is always a refuge for her.
He Gives Her Wisdom
Verse: “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” James 1:5
Prayer: May (your daughter’s name) seek the wisdom of the Lord in all things.
He Provides All She Needs to Stand Firm in Him
Verse: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11
Prayer: May (your daughter’s name) put on the full armor of God so that she can stand firm against the enemy in His strength.
This article has really blessed me. Though I have missed out of some opportunities to go out with my teenage son. I have learnt the importance of date. Thank you.
Thank you! This is something I definitely need to do more. I used to be better at scheduling dates when my boys were all very little. Now that they are older (elementary) our dates have fallen off. I want to reclaim that one-on-one time with them again before they get any older. It would make my heart to so happy to know that my boys would still hang out with me when they get to be teenagers and beyond.
Thank you so MUCH from the bottom of my heart for this article. Sharing your stories is an encouragement as well as (another) reminder to me that I only have my son for so long. It brings tears to my eyes and heart just to think that one day my son won’t have time for me should the Lord bless him with a wife and kids. I am scheduling a day date for today as a surprise for when he comes home from the bus stop. My son is 14 (going on 15) and loves cars. I’m thinking of just grabbing his fav at McDonald’s (his fav restaurant of all time haha) and strolling around together with his playlist choice of music. Again, thank you. The scriptures at the end touched my heart. I’ve read Luke more than once and know that verse like the back of my hand. But the Holy Spirit struck a soft spot in my heart this time around. (Luke 6:31 “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”) It ALWAYS feels special when someone does something for me out of their heart and that verse just spoke differently to me this time.
You’re so welcome!