5 Ways to Pray for Your Kids' Friendships

Have you ever pondered about how to pray for your kids’ friendships? Or have you ever given thought to how God wired us for relationships?

In the beginning of time, God created and formed the world of beauty, then created man to inhabit it. Each day, God viewed His creation, and said it was good. He created the sun, moon and stars, then said it was good. He spoke the entire animal kingdom into existence and called it “good.” Then he made man.

And for the first time, God looked down at His creation and said “It is not good that man should be alone.”

God knew that his creation of human beings required community and friendship.

Cultivating good friendships is important to every parent. Praying for healthy friendships for your children is a wonderful way to encourage the right choice of friends. Take a few minutes to discover 5 ways to pray for your kids’ friendships:

1. Pray for your child’s heart to understand that they are never alone.

Jesus is a Friend who will never leave them or forsake them. Though your child may experience feelings of loneliness, they are never alone when Jesus lives in their hearts.

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

2. Pray for your child’s mind to make wise choices regarding close friendships.

Friends can be the very thing that builds you up or tears you down. Any person we choose to be a friend will influence our daily choices. Because of their influence, praying for wisdom is critical!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

3. Pray for your child’s spirit to be friendly.

In order to have friends, the Bible teaches that we need to be friendly. For shy children, this concept can be tough. Praying for your child to want to be friendly is a wonderful way to encourage this area of concern.

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

4. Pray for your child’s mouth not to participate in talking poorly about others or gossiping.

Talking about others separates friends rather than bringing them closer together.

“A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends” (Proverbs 16:28).

5. Pray for your child’s love to reach beyond the surface of superficial friendship.

True friends stick with each other through the good times and the bad times.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).

Your Turn

We would love it if you would share your ideas on ways to pray for your child’s friendships. For more ways to pray for your child, check out “7 Ways to Pray for Your Children for 7 Days” or the “Back-to-School Prayer Tool.” Would you share your prayer ideas with us? How do you pray for your child’s friendships?

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