Who taught us to pray? For many of us, it was our parents. They enriched our understanding of the importance of spending time with God each day. Honoring parents means more than sending cards on special days, and it’s more than an occasional invitation to dinner.

The biblical context includes respect and a commitment of grown children to care for their parents, especially when they are infirmed. It is one beautiful outworking of the Gospel. God cares for us, His children, and He models what ongoing, compassionate ministry looks like.

A Prayer For God’s Providence

I am grateful my parent trusted in You long ago, but I know there are many parents and elderly loved ones who still do not know you, Lord, and I ask you to woo them to Yourself and bring about their salvation and transformation. I pray You will bring to my loved one’s remembrance all the ways You have been their hope and help—in many cases since childhood.

Thank you for all the ways You used my parent to shape my young life. What a precious gift! My parent guided me in practical ways and showed me how to trust You. Although my parent was not perfect, I sensed the desire to mold me into a good person, and I’m thankful I was encouraged to become a Christ-follower.

And now the roles are reversed. I have the privilege to help and serve and remind my loved one of Your tender, shepherding care. Give me patience, wisdom, and an understanding heart. Help me continue to show respect and appreciation and to value who You, in Your Providence, created my loved one to be. Ultimately, I know Your care for my parent is beyond anything I can offer, for every good gift comes from You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

A Prayer For Protection

I pray my parent will keep on leaning on You, the Rock of strength and righteousness. Spread your protection over my parent because You are the ultimate Refuge. I ask you to protect my parent from the evil ones and show the way out in moments of temptation. May wisdom, discretion, and understanding protect and guide every day. I pray my parents will be courageous and confident in Your presence, help, and deliverance. Amen.

A Prayer For Provision

Show me how to meet my parent’s needs in ways that will please You, Lord. Equip me to be a good steward in my loved one’s care. There is much I can do, but You are the Great Provider. Thank you for being so willing to supply my parent’s needs for Your glory and my loved one’s joy. I pray my parent will be made holy through Your grace and receive Your good favor. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

A Prayer For Power

As strength declines, I pray for a greater sense of Your presence and power. You are mighty, Father, and our strength is in You alone. In times of need, help my parent lean on your sufficiency and everlasting arms, and when life feels so impossible, remind my loved one that nothing is impossible with You. Amen.

A Prayer For Peace

I ask You to give my parent a trusting and thankful heart, especially as days grow more complicated. Help my aging parent take every disappointment to You. Preserve from any bitterness or spirit of discontent. I pray the Holy Spirit will teach and comfort, guide, and calm and that my parent will not become discouraged in aging. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

A Prayer For Purpose

I ask you to help my parent flourish—“like the palm tree… bearing fruit in their old age,” with an eternal perspective, described in Psalm 92:12-15. Work in my loved one’s life for Your glory. Open appropriate opportunities for ministry and influence.

Help my parent live as a holy and faithful role model, Father, for as long as you allow. From a wealth of experience, I pray my parent will share important life lessons You still want me to learn. Fill my parent’s mouth with Your praise and a desire to worship and bring You glory from a testimony solid and true.

Thank you for the many ways parents can influence children and grandchildren for good. I pray my loved one will proclaim Your power and care to this generation by word and deed. Father, I thank you for Jesus, who makes possible our God-honoring transition from this world to everlasting glory. As I pray these things for my parent, I pray them for myself as well. I pray we all will someday hear Your “well done.” Amen.

A Prayer For Comfort

Heavenly Father, I find it hard to watch my parents slow down as they age. Thank you for your gift of parents and family. Thank you for all the time I spent with them and everything they taught me through the years. Strengthen them in mind and body. Provide for their needs. Let them continue walking with You in grace and growing in Your wisdom.

Please help me understand their needs and grant me the wisdom to know what to do for them. Teach me to honor my parents today and always and let me be a good example for my children to follow. Allow their final days to be filled with Your comfort and love. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

In the hustle and bustle of life, we remember to pray for our spouse, children, careers, among other things. Unfortunately, sometimes our parents are left out of our prayers. The love we hold for mom and dad did not change, just our circumstances in life.

At one point, our parents were the centers of our lives. However, as things progress, they find themselves cheering us on from the sidelines. Life tends to move us forward, but it doesn’t hurt to look back now and then. We must cherish our parents while they’re still here by praying for them daily. For them, aging and adapting can be difficult, but these prayers can keep them uplifted in the hands of God.