Skip to content ↓

A Prayer for Parents of Teens

Being the Answer to Prayer

I have already shared a few of Kathleen Nielson’s prayers for children–young children and adult children. I wanted to share just one more, this one from her collection of prayers for parents of teenagers. After all, is there any time we pray for our children with more fervency than during their teenage years? This is a prayer for matters of first importance. May it give you words to pray for the child you love…

O Lord, so many things I’d ask for her—
so many things I do pursue for her—
as now the quieter pace of childhood play lurches ahead with seeming little warning, pulling her and pulling me to keep abreast with this and that assignment, this new friend, or this most urgent thing…

Please let us pause, O Lord.
Help us—both my dear child and me—
help us give careful thought to all our ways and most of all to you who gave your Son
to die for sinners, just as your Word says.
He died and conquered death for us;
he rose. What more important thing could be?

I would not seek an end to many things,
O Lord who made and sees it all;
I would not ask to empty but to shape our days in light of you and in submission to your Word. May Jesus fill my child’s vision,
Lord of all, the Reconciler to himself
of all things everywhere
through his own blood upon that cross.
What more important thing could ever be?

So, for my growing child I pray
that you would make your Son
of first importance, now and always.


  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 12)

    A La Carte: Humbly admitting we are vulnerable to sexual temptation / On aging into childhood / The criticized leader / Kevin DeYoung’s “plus one” approach to church / pitfalls in women’s ministry leadership / and more.

  • Dr Google

    Doctor Google, Influencer Moms, and the Local Church

    A family member was recently paying a visit to a doctor who provided his diagnosis of the condition and suggested a course of treatment. My family member listened patiently but then said, “I was wondering if we could actually try another treatment instead.” The doctor playfully rolled his eyes and said, “I see you’ve been…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 11)

    A La Carte: Why am I so spiritually dry? / Holy imposter syndrome / When those we respect disappoint us / Through many tribulations / Answering a question that hasn’t been asked / Book and Kindle deals / and more.

  • Intact

    Intact and Unmoved

    Corrie ten Boom knew what it was to suffer deprivation, to have to do without so many of life’s luxuries and even its necessities. Arrested and sent to a concentration camp for her role in sheltering Jews from the Nazis, she spent almost a year in confinement and suffered the loss of her father and…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (November 9)

    A La Carte: Waiting on God / Approach, My Soul / Chronic illness / A comforting verse for not so great preachers / Love the church like Jesus / and more.

  • Free Stuff Fridays (P&R Publishing)

    This week the blog and giveaway have been sponsored by P&R Publishing. Calvin, Spurgeon, and Luther appear alongside Wordsworth, Twain, and Emerson in a vibrant celebration of God’s creation. Ryken joins great works of poetry, hymnody, prose, and art with accessible literary analysis. “John Calvin referred to nature as the theater of God’s glory. Dr.…