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What does the Bible say about children and prayer?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that children are a gracious gift from God, sinful yet precious, and they should be nurtured in faith through prayer, instruction, and trust in the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 calls parents to train children in the way of wisdom, while Job 1:5 shows a father prayerfully interceding for his children. Proverbs 14:26 teaches that the fear of the Lord provides a refuge for one’s children, and Psalm 37:25-26 portrays the blessing of godly generosity across generations. Since all have sinned, as Romans 3:23 declares, children need God’s saving grace. Believing parents may therefore pray confidently, abiding in Christ according to John 15:7, while entrusting their children to God’s covenant mercy and sovereign care.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • John 15:7

    If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.

  • Proverbs 22:6

    Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

  • Proverbs 14:26

    In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, And he will be a refuge for his children.

  • Job 1:5

    It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts." Thus did Job continually.

  • Psalms 37:25-26

    [25] I have been young, and now am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his children begging for bread. [26] All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His seed is blessed.

  • Psalms 127:3

    Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.

  • Romans 3:23

    for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

  • Amos 1:1-15

    [1] The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. [2] He said: "Yahweh will roar from Zion, And utter his voice from Jerusalem; And the pastures of the shepherds will mourn, And the top of Carmel will wither." [3] Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Damascus, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; Because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron; [4] But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, And it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad. [5] I will break the bar of Damascus, And cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven, And him who holds the scepter from the house of Eden; And the people of Syria shall go into captivity to Kir," says Yahweh. [6] Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; Because they carried away captive the whole community, To deliver them up to Edom; [7] But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, And it will devour its palaces. [8] I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, And him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; And I will turn my hand against Ekron; And the remnant of the Philistines will perish," says the Lord Yahweh. [9] Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Tyre, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; Because they delivered up the whole community to Edom, And didn't remember the brotherly covenant; [10] But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, And it will devour its palaces." [11] Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Edom, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; Because he pursued his brother with the sword, And cast off all pity, And his anger raged continually, And he kept his wrath forever; [12] But I will send a fire on Teman, And it will devour the palaces of Bozrah." [13] Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; Because they have ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead, That they may enlarge their border. [14] But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, And it will devour its palaces, With shouting in the day of battle, With a tempest in the day of the whirlwind; [15] And their king will go into captivity, He and his princes together," says Yahweh.

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