I’ve prayed through Psalm 40 for my children, and for me. I share it here as a prayer for my children, and a prayer for your children. Our God is good.
Lord, let my children wait patiently for You. Listen to them and hear their cries. Bring them up out of the pit of destruction. Bring them out of the miry clay. Set their feet upon the rock. Make their footsteps firm.
Put a new song in the mouth of my children, a song of praise to You. Let many see and fear and trust in You.
Let my children make You their trust, Lord, that they may be blessed. Let them not turn to the proud or to those who walk in falsehood.
Many are the wonders which You have done, Lord. Many are Your thoughts toward my children. They are too numerous to count. May my children know this. Let them proclaim this. There is none to compare with You.
Sacrifice and offering You have not desired. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Open the ears of my children. Let each of them say, “Behold, I come. In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God. Your Law is within my heart.”
Write about my children in your book, O God. Let them delight to do Your will. Write Your Law on their hearts.
Let my children proclaim glad tidings of righteousness among the people. I pray that they would never restrain their lips from praising You. Let them not hide Your righteousness. Let them speak of Your faithfulness and salvation.
May my children never conceal Your lovingkindness and Your truth from anyone.
Lord, do not withhold Your compassion from my children. Preserve them with Your lovingkindness and Your truth. Evils beyond number have surrounded them; their iniquities have overtaken them, so that they are not able to see. Don’t let their hearts fail them.
Deliver my children, Lord. Make haste to help them. If any seek the lives of my children or try to turn them away from You, let them be ashamed and humiliated. Let any who delight in the hurt of my children be turned back and dishonored. Let them be appalled because of their shame.
Let my children seek You and rejoice. Let them be glad in You. Let my children love Your salvation. Let them say, “The Lord be magnified!”
Be mindful of my children, Lord. Be their help and deliverer. Do not delay, O Lord.
