5 Things to Pray for Your Kids: Prayers that change things for the next generation

5 Things to Pray

by Melissa B. Kruger

Whatever their age, the most important thing we can do for our children is to pray for them. But where do we start?

This little guide is both deep and do-able. Melissa Kruger helps us step out of the busyness of family life and pray for our children's spiritual growth and character development in 21 key areas. For each chapter, there are five short prayer prompts drawn straight from the Bible. Because when we pray in line with God's priorities as found in his word, our prayers are powerful and effective (James 5 v 16)—and that's a truly thrilling prospect.

Use this book in any number of ways: work through it as part of your daily quiet time, or pick it up whenever a particular need arises. It will help you to pray meaningfully for your child, grandchild, godchild, or kids in your church—from tots to teens, and every age in between.

Genres: Parenting, Prayer, Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Faith, Family

96 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2019

About the author

Melissa Kruger teaches women at Uptown Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and at conferences around the country. She regularly writes articles for the Gospel Coalition and Christianity.com, and she is the author of The Envy of Eve. Melissa’s most cherished roles include being a wife to Mike, president of Reformed Theological Seminary–Charlotte, and a mother to her three children, Emma, John, and Kate.

Reviews

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one like a little devotional & read one prayer alongside my daily scripture reading. They’re short & sweet, yet applicable. The prayers were straight from scripture & applicable to my boys at any age so I know I’ll be picking this up & re-reading. I enjoyed that it gave me a new prayer each day to pray over my boys along a similar theme for the week. These were such short prayers that I found myself praying older prayers so that’s a good sign that it stuck! I can’t wait to read other ones the author has out.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all want the best for our children—especially for them to know and love the Savior—but every parent is quickly disabused of the notion that we can change their hearts. We strive to faithfully parent but we desperately need the Lord to work. In 5 Things to Pray, Melissa Kruger takes us to Scripture to pray God’s Word through the seasons of parenting life. What greater gift and model can we offer our children than to be prayerful parents, committing us and our children to God’s grace.

[Kelsie Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of prayer prompts for your children was concise and thoughtful. She gives you a couple of ways to use it- I prayed through one prompt of each weekly session each morning during devotional time. It helped to keep me focused, and I would find myself praying over that same prompt throughout the day. Highly recommend!

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short book containing lists of prayer points to pray for your children. But, I will say, the prayer points that are included are very comprehensive, covering things we want to pray for ourselves as parents, for our children, and also things for various life stages as well.

If you have children and you want to be praying for them, this is a great book to work through.

[Kira Fikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resource and prompts some thought provoking prayers. I’ll definitely reach for this time and again!

[Ryan Boomershine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential lists of sweet Gospel grace.

[Erica Schrader · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! But it should be called 21 Things to Pray for Your Kids. Melissa provides a verse with every prayer point, which is so helpful to utilize in praying God’s will (the Bible) for our kids. If your kids are heading back to school, like mine, I highly recommend utilizing this book as a guide of what/how to pray for them in this new school year. *Best utilized in a 21 day rotation...finish it, and then start again!*

[Sophie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series is such a great resource and this book is no exception. I’m so thankful for Scriptural prompts and a helpful framework to pray for our babies in a way that is for their highest joy and deepest flourishing. Can’t recommend these books enough.

[Cassia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is both sweet and thorough. It’s not a “read through once or again...” type of book, but a tool for routine use. I can tell that Melissa Kruger has spent her life in prayer, study, and meditation on Gods word. I imagine her reading Scripture and her heart saying, “this truth is good to bless my children....” I see her writing it in a journal and reflecting on it again and again— and that’s what this book is: a reflection of a heart set in God’s word, trusting it, hoping it, and acting on it in regular active prayer.
I found the sections easy to pray through and turn into my own specific prayers for my young boys, and I imagine this book sitting by my Bible for years and years to come as my kids grow through struggles and joys.
There is no better way to pray than with God’s own words on-tongue. I am so thankful for Melissa Kruger for putting that discipline together for us in this (and many other) books on prayer. This book is a tool for obedience, an umbrella for the temptation, and a mountain spring for the traveler.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this book is short, less than 100 pages, it encourages parents and loved ones in prayer for the children in their care or circle of spiritual influence. From cover to cover, it humbly recognizes our need for a savior as we pray for those we love in many different areas of life. I read it thoroughly in a day so as to be informed and able to share (or not share) with others... and now one book will be added to my daughter’s night stand beside her Jesus Storybook Bible and another to my own nightstand beside my Bible. Well written, well done! Thank you to the gentle mama who encouraged me to get this book! I am grateful.

[Hannah]

A great resource and one that I have already returned to (and plan to return to over and over again). The short, focused prompts have helped me to pray more specifically for my kids and it has also served as a reminder to take a breather during the day and pray for them in general.

This was a sweet Mother’s Day gift from a friend—and what a great gift it has been. I decided to write the date beside each prompt, hoping that one day my little ones will be able to look back and have a tangible reminder that they were prayed for even before they were born.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick book to read through but it could last for a lifetime of prayers for our children. Not just for parents of young children but for those who have older and adult children as well. The organization: 21 “chapters” with 5 items from scripture to pray for your children (or you). Eg. 5 things to pray when my cold is suffering from disappointment, hurt, or loss (Rom 5:1-5) glorify Your name; endure; grow in character; hope; remember. Each of the five come with a verse and thought from the author.

I bought this to share with my Bible Study group. It’s a small book but a resource treasure. Keep it handy as you pray—you won’t get into a slump or wonder how can I pray? What can I pray? Melissa Kruger will stand alongside and help.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can easily fall into a rut when praying for my children. I am thankful, therefore, for Melissa Kruger's new book “5 Things to Pray for Your Kids: Prayers that Change Things for the Next Generation.” This is not an abstract lecture about prayer; it's a practical guide to prayer. The layout is clear, the framing is biblical, the prayer prompts are brief, and the value—for us, for our kids, and for the glory of Christ—is eternal.

[Blue Morse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Misleading title. Should be called 5x things about 21x topics, hence 105 things to pray for your kids…

Honestly, this one was shallow and slightly random, as if someone cherry picked 21 popular verses in scripture and converted them into prayer topics for our kids.

Alistair Begg’s “Pray Big: Learn to Pray like an Apostle” would do much better service to elevate our prayers for the spiritual life and growth of our children.

[Alexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little book. It has really helped me to be more intentional about how I pray for my kids. I’m just using it during my quiet time most days and pray through a topic each day. I love it that scripture is used for each topic and then expounded upon. Such a practical book that I’m going to continue to cycle through.

[Heather Pocock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this on and off throughout the year in the mornings or while lying on the floor by the kids beds waiting for them to sleep. It’s flexible, practical and a simple primer for what to pray for kids with about 25 different topics split into “5 things” based around bible verses - a good reminder to look upwards in my parenting and ask for his help.

[Katy Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly helpful resource as you pray for your kids using Scripture! I love the versatility of being able to use it for a daily or weekly prayer prompt or if you have some specific things you want to be praying for your kids. Highly recommend as a starting point to pray Scripture over your kids lives.

[David King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tremendously helpful prayer guide that I use each morning as I read the Scriptures, reflect, and journal. After going through the guide a first time, I immediately began again, and I purchased the other 5 Things to Pray guides from the series.

[Iain Hamill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent stuff. One to use alongside the daily Bible reading. Helpful to get inspiration as it's easy to fall into the routine of praying for the same things/focusing on their material or urgent needs and not necessarily the most important ones!

[Jacob Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a short book, so very approachable. An extremely practical guide on what to pray for your kids, but could almost be viewed as more of a reference than a book you read. Feels like cheating to count towards the annual goal.

[Ivy Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical, short, based in Scripture. It gives some really good handles to regular pray powerful prayers for you kids (5 prayers when they’re lonely, for their salvation, for their friendships, etc.)

Probably my new top recommended book for parents and caregivers.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read

I loved that this book is short, sweet and to the point. It specifically gives you practical things to pray for and the corresponding verses.

I look forward to digesting this and using it practically - and reading the other books in the series!

[Elizabeth Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful resource to know how to pray specifically for our kids. Thankful for her faithfulness to let scripture lead in how to pray! Will definitely be using this to help guide how to pray as I parent in different seasons of my kids lives!

[Karoline · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a book object, I love the small size and sturdy cover. As a prayer guide, well organized and a great prompt. I did wish the entire scripture passage for each week was printed and included in the book. All in all, a useful little handbook.

[Dan Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little book! I highly recommend parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and all church members to pray through this book as it points to God and His Word.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid primer for those who struggle with how to pray for their kids in a Biblical fashion. ot by accident, you also end up praying for others and yourself in healthy ways.

[Nick Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Practical. Highly recommend.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book will get a lot of continued use! Very helpful.

[Peter Yock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful ways to pray for the children in biblical and thought-through ways.