God of life and love, you have given me this child to care for this little while.
My heart is welled with joy and thanksgiving, anticipation and anxiety, amidst a longing to be together as we have been till now.
These years of growing up have moved so quickly, so many things left undone, so much left unsaid, so much I still hope to give to my child who is taking this new step in the journey of life.
Help us as we reshape our lives to reflect this new reality of college. Show us new ways to be present to each other in love and in trust. Give me patience and help me to remember that my child is establishing new routines in freedom, routines different from my routines.
Calm my fears. Strengthen and protect my child in the midst of the challenges and temptations which surround all students. Grant greater courage that I myself may have had in standing for your truth against compromises of faith.
Provide good friends and worthy confidants for my child during these college years. Help me to give support and confidence, to discern how I am needed now, and to pass on, in my love, a measure of the strength and courage you have given me in the gift of parenting.
Father, thank you for my student. This life you've woven in them is wonderful. During this school year, whether it's in the dorm adjusting to their roommates, standing on the marching band or athletic field, sitting in a classroom, or staring at their homework, may my student park their thoughts on you. Protect my child against self-harm, failure, depression, and laziness. Surround them with your truth concerning drugs, alcohol, sex, and faith. Close the door on blame, bad-mouthing, judgment, and condemnation. May they consider and cherish, instead, what is true, allowing your perfect love to cast out all fear. May they dwell on all that's honorable, just, pure, and lovely. May he/she toss aside the bad, clinging to the good – especially when it comes to relationships and their future with you. May virtue and praise echo in their mind and be reflected in their words and actions. In Jesus' name, amen.
Lord, you've given my student the ability to communicate, and it is good. May their words be acceptable in your sight. When they attempt to muffle or stuff words out of fear or uncertainty, may they be brave and allow godly communication its opportunity. When they face a tough conversation, I pray they persevere, continuing to trust you. Most importantly, Lord, may my young woman/man communicate with you on a regular basis. I pray they seek you and nourish a desire to hear your voice daily. In Jesus' name, amen.
Lord, you have made the eye for your purposes. With wisdom you beautifully knit each one. May my child guard their eyes well. I pray they'll grab wisdom, allowing it to filter what they choose to see and not see. May understanding lead their focus, causing them to turn from situations formatted by darkness. May they, instead, allow the light of your Word to filter their sight concerning friends, dates, movies, educational content, and any situation in which their eyes are involved. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Dear Lord, I pray for my child who is stepping into a new season on a new college campus this year. I pray You will help him with all of the logistics of getting classes, meeting professors, setting up financial aid and getting moved into housing. Surround him with friends who will challenge him to walk more closely with You and guide him to a church where he can serve you while at college. Help him to work hard, to study well and to use this time to develop skills and gifts for Your purposes. As he encounters new challenges, help him love You with his whole heart. As he hears different philosophies, help him love you with his whole mind. As the enemy prowls around tempting him with all manner of worldliness, help him love You with all his strength. Give him courage to follow hard after You and to glorify You where You've placed him. In Jesus' name, amen.
Lord, I pray my child will have eyes to see You and ears to hear You as she navigates big decisions about her major, internships, relationships and her future. Please bring clarity and to her decisions and peace as she makes them. Help her to seek Your will above her own. Help her to know the purpose You have for her. Help her to be patient as You reveal Your perfect will for her and help her to lean not on her own understanding but to trust You to make all of her paths straight. Help her discern when others are speaking wisdom from You. Open doors widely and close them loudly as You lead her. In Jesus' name, amen.
Dear God, I know You promise to provide every need according to Your riches in Christ Jesus. So I ask you to meet the financial needs of my child while he's in college. Provide for his housing, for transportation needs, for his tuition and books. Help my child to honor you with his money, to give cheerfully, and to see Your hand as You meet his needs. Your eye is on the sparrow and You gloriously clothe the lilies of the field and I know You will also care for my child. Help us not to worry but to trust You and Your timing and Your ways. Thank You God, that You already have all provision and will meet every need for the schooling You've called my child to. In Jesus' name, amen.
Lord, I pray my child will feel Your strong presence as she ventures out to college. Draw her to You and give her a hunger for Your Word that isn't satisfied anywhere else. Help her find a local church where she can grow, be discipled and serve and help her dig deep in Bible study. Help her to guard her own personal time for Bible study and prayer when so much else tries to crowd in and keep her from You. As she meets challenges and struggles, help her turn to You. I pray she will stay rooted in You, will flourish as a light for You on campus and will know how wide and long and high and deep Your love is so that her soul is filled to the full measure of You. In Jesus' name, amen.