A Prayer For Parents: Praying For Aging Moms & Dads

Prayer For Parents

Who taught you to pray? For a lot of us, our parents instructed us about prayers as they put us to bed each night. Maybe they taught you this familiar, simple prayer:

“Now I lay me down to sleep;

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

May God guard me through the night,

And wake me with the morning light. Amen.”

They enriched our understanding of the importance of spending time with God each day.

Some of us moved away from home when we ventured off to college. Once graduated, we set off in search of jobs and futures, which left us far from our parents.

Phone calls and FaceTime keeps us connected, but it is still not the same for our parents. We might visit them on holidays and vacations but not as often as they would like.

The love we hold for mom and dad did not change, just our circumstances in life. 

More time passes, and one day we find ourselves in the roles of adults and parents. Hopefully, we continue the practice of daily prayer time and pass it on to the next generation of children.

But, the prayers we uttered in childhood gave way to ones focused on our kids, careers, and needs of our busy lives. We pray for ourselves and for the next generation.

But, what about our parents and the older generations? Do you stop and pray the occasional prayer for parents?

As the world marches on, our parents undergo changes beyond their control. Where they once stood front and center in our lives, they now watch us from the sidelines. They cheer us on all the while succumbing to the ravages of time.

They might hide their difficulties, so they don’t interrupt the lives of their children. They only want what is best for them, even at the risk of their own health and safety.

Before we all become saddened by these thoughts, we must remember this is the normal cycle of life. Even back in Biblical times, children grew up and left their parents.

Our purpose here is to encourage each us to remember the sacrifice our parents made for us to enjoy our lives. Part of that responsibility includes making sure we pray for them too.

Life keeps moving us forward, but we need to make time to look back. Cherish your parents by praying for them daily. Prayer is an amazing way to arm yourself spiritually.

I’ve included a prayer for parents specifically at the end to help out with that.

What does the Bible say about caring for our parents?

Here are some verses to look at about parents and aging:

• Exodus 20:12: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
• Isaiah 46:4: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you, and I will rescue you.”
  
• 1 Timothy 5:1-2: “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers; 2. older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.”
• Leviticus 19:32: “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly, and revere your God. I am the Lord.”
• 1 Peter 5:1: “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed.”
• Psalm 71:9: “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”
• 1 Timothy 5:8: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
• 1 Timothy 5:4: “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.”

God cares about us even as we age. And when God cares about something, we are called to do the same. Do not neglect to care for your parents with your prayers. Understand that as they age, they will need your help in many ways.

Here are some ideas on how to show your parents some appreciation during their golden years:

• Call them as often possible.
• Listen to them and emphasize.
• Be an advocate for their care and needs.
• If you are far away, ask others to help around the house with things like mowing or cleaning.
• Encourage them to stay active.
• Create memories by doing things together.
• Encourage them without being bossy.
• Send cards and drawings made by their grandchildren.

My parents are gone, and I miss them daily. If you still have yours, cherish these days because one day they will be gone. Now is the time to do as much as possible for them.

Be an example for your children, so they know how to care for you in the future. Growing old is a gift from God, and it is our job to make those final years as golden as we can. 

A Prayer for Parents

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 get to spend with them and all the things 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.

Help me to 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.

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Do You Have a Prayer For Parents You Pray? Let Us Know Below!