For many years, Joanna and I had the mindset that our work PLUS prayer would produce results. If we only parented our sons well enough or put in enough effort in addition to prayer, then it would lead to them becoming godly, Christ-following men.

But as we matured, we came to see that in the end, our efforts fade away in comparison to what God does in our lives and the lives of our children. Of course, we still have to parent our children, but praying fervently and acknowledging God’s hand on their life is a crucial part of surrendering their lives to Him.

The truth is that our boys haven’t always worn their hearts on their sleeves (surprising, I know 🙂), so it was tough for them to admit when they needed help or made a mistake. They would often feel the pressure to win approval and protect themselves from rejection. Even though we aimed to be the most committed, most caring, and the most attentive parents we could be, we simply can’t fulfill all their needs.

This is why it is so important to carry our boys to the Lord in prayer. He knows the inner workings of their hearts and minds as well as the threats to their well-being. He even knows their secret fears and shame they may be carrying. He will never leave their side and as a parent, prayer is one of the best ways we can support our sons!

This week on the blog, we wanted to pull a few prayers from our 101 Prayers for My Son book to share with you. If you’d like more prayers like these, be sure to grab a copy!

And in case you missed it, you can go back and read the blog post on 10 Prayers for Your Daughter here.

Here are 10 prayers for your son:

1) Pray for Good Friends

“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” – Proverbs 12:26

Lord God, my son’s friends hold tremendous influence in his life. Give him the wisdom to seek out those who will encourage him in following You. Surround him with examples of integrity, self-control, and kindness. Protect him from those who reject Your Word and tempt him to sin. Keep him from compromising his values to fit in or to avoid feeling lonely. Let him hold on to You, his most faithful Friend of all. Amen.

2) Pray for Self-Control

“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” – Proverbs 16:32

Lord God, my son needs Your help to cope with frustration and disappointment. Guard his heart from anger when he can’t have his way. Keep him from lashing out with harsh words or his fists when he’s upset. Give him self-control beyond his years, so he can act in love instead of reacting in hate. Fill him with patience, soothing away any aggression that would create destruction in his life. Amen.

3) Pray for Wise Choices

“A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.” – Proverbs 17:25

Holy Lord, my son’s choices may bring honor and joy to our family, or cause heartache and pain. Give him discernment in choosing his friends. Keep him from impulsive decisions leading to trouble or shame. Teach him integrity, respect, and self-control so he is worthy of trust. Set him free from regret and a lost reputation by keeping him on the path of wisdom. Guide his steps each day. Amen.

4) Pray for Hard Work

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” – Colossians 3:23-24

Father, You know the tasks my son needs to accomplish – homework, chores, practices, commitments – and his struggle to face the challenges. Give him the strength to tackle his work with a willing heart. Motivate him to do his best and to finish what he starts. As he learns discipline, let him experience the reward for a job well done. May he seek to please You in all he does, seeking Your glory above his own. Amen.

5) Pray for a Strong Faith

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’” – John 11:25-26

Lord, give my son an unshakable faith in Jesus. Persuade him by Your Spirit that Your Word is the truth. Fill him with joy as he looks ahead to eternity with You. When his beliefs are challenged, give him confidence in Christ. Rescue him from doubt and discouragement in times of trouble. Let him find his life – his hope, his purpose, and his salvation – by trusting in Jesus with all his heart. Amen.

6) Pray for His Self-Esteem

“You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:13-14

Lord Jesus, my son has a tendency to compare himself to others, leaving him feeling insecure. He feels like he can never measure up to everyone else. Help him to remember that he is Your own special creation. You planned his personality, his mind, his talents, and his smile before You even made the world. Give him significance by knowing that he is Yours. Soothe his wounded heart, and silence the lies that say he’s not good enough. Amen.

7) Pray for Defeating Temptation

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” – Romans 6:11-12, 18

Heavenly Father, It’s tempting to depend on the pleasures of this world to ease our pain and relieve our stress. Give my son the wisdom to see that alcohol, food, drugs, sex, money, and relationships can never meet the needs of his heart. Protect him from the destruction that addiction could bring to his life. Let him love You, and depend on Your comfort and strength. May he live in freedom as he follows You. Amen.

8) Pray for a Giving Heart

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” – 1 Timothy 6:18

Lord and Savior, You’ve lavished Your love on my son and given him too many blessings to count. Teach him to share with others as You share Your love and kindness with him. Keep him from a selfish attitude that thinks only of itself. Fill his heart with joy when he helps others and gives generously. Let him shine Your light in the world – easing pain, loneliness, and poverty – out of love for You. Amen.

9) Pray for Loving His Future Wife

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” – Colossians 3:19

Lord, prepare my son to one day be a loving husband if that is what You have for him. Give him a patient heart, full of compassion for his bride. Make him reasonable – free from selfish demands and expectations. Let him become the kind of man to forgive her faults, show sensitivity for her feelings, and cherish her each day. Help him to show her Your love through my son’s tender care. Amen.

10) Pray for Hope in God

“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.” – Romans 4:20-21

Father, when troubles come and the future is uncertain, my son can doubt that You’re there. Give him faith that stands through any storm. Let him believe in Your promises to protect and provide. Fix his hope on eternity with You, knowing that in the end, You’ll make everything right. Help him to know You’re always in control, trusting in the powerful, invisible God instead of what his eyes can see. Amen.

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Prayer sustains our faith in the God who promises to hear us, care for us, stay with us, and love us relentlessly through it all. It names our needs and calls on the One who can satisfy them. Prayer is the one and only thing we can do that’s guaranteed to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of our sons.

Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Through prayer, we have the opportunity to speak to the Father, to share our concerns, and most importantly, to align ourselves to His purpose and will.

What a gift! Today, I encourage you to boldly approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) on behalf of your son(s) and believe in the power we find there. It would be a privilege to pray with you for whatever your child is struggling through right now. Reach out any time and know that Joanna and I will take your prayer requests to God, together.

Thank you for meeting us here on the blog today—we’re grateful to be walking the journey of parenthood with you!

Looking for more? Take a look at our prayer books for sons and daughters: