UPDATE: There are now a total of 58 virtues listed on the Biblical virtue prayers page here.

This blog post is Part 1 of this series. For the Part 2 blog post click here.

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One of the things that I have become in the habit of doing is praying for my children. I pray every night with each of them before they go to bed. I also pray for them throughout the day; sometimes with them listening and others to myself. I have been getting into the habit of praying for my husband as well. I have to admit that I am not very good at praying for him but the more I do it; the easier it becomes.

I have a “Parent’s Prayer Calendar” that was given to me several years ago. I am not sure who gave it to me or who originally designed the particular one I have (I have seen a few variations). I would like to share the prayers with you (I have added other virtues that I have found). Each day has a Biblical virtue, short prayer, and a Bible verse.

I am also going to post this as a page for my site. This way it will be easy for you (and me) to come back to it in the future.

Some tips for reading the list:

***This is a good guideline for praying for your children but also for praying for your spouses and/or yourself. So you can easily substitute the words “my children” with: “I,”  “Spouse’s Name,” etc.

***Claim and believe that God is working each one of these Biblical virtues into your children’s lives (or your spouse’s life or your own life). I recommend praying 1-2 virtues per day (throughout the day). Work your way down the list. When you have finished the list; start back at the beginning!

***The virtues listed here are in alphabetical order.

***The Biblical virtue is in color, the Prayer is in black, and the Scripture is in red.

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BOLDNESS-I pray that my children would fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel of Christ Jesus.

“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:19

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COMPASSION– Lord, I pray that you would clothe my children with the virtue of compassion.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

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CONTENTMENT– Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12

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CONFIDENCE– Lord, please give my children the confidence that they need so that can accomplish anything that is required of them, knowing their strength comes from you.

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

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COURAGE– Lord, may my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

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FAITH– I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may take hold of the eternal life to which they were called.

“The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Luke 17:5-6

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

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FAITHFULNESS– Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3

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GRACE– I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

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GRATITUDE– Lord, help my children to live lives that overflow with thankfulness, always giving thanks to you.

“always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20

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GENEROSITY– Lord, I pray that my children would be rich in good deeds, generous, and willing to share.

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19

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HEART FOR MISSIONS– Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all peoples.

“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” Psalm 96:3

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HOPE– God of hope, grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Sprit.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

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HUMILITY– Father God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all.

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” Titus 3:2

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INTEGRITY– Lord, may integrity and uprightness protect my children because their hope is in you.

“May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.” Psalm 25:21

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JOY– Heavenly Father, grant that my children would be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

“…Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 1:6

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JUSTICE– God, help my children to love justice as you do and act justly in all they do.

“For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.” Psalm 11:7

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

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KINDNESS– Father, I pray that my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15

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LOVE– Father, grant that my children would learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who lives in them.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3

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LOVE FOR GOD’S WORD– Lord, may my children regard your Word as more precious than gold and sweeter than honey.

“They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.” Psalm 19:10

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MERCY-Oh Father, grant that my children would be full of mercy and compassion as you are Lord.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36

“As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:11

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PASSION FOR THE GOD– Lord, please instill in my children a soul with a craving for you, a heart that clings passionately to you.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1

“My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” Psalms 63:8

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PATIENCE– God, strengthen my children with all power so that they may have great endurance and patience.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

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PEACE– Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace.

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19

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PERSEVERANCE– Lord, teach my children to persevere in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race set before them.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

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PRAYERFULNESS– I ask, Lord, that my children would be committed to prayer and never give up and that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions.

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18

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PURITY– Create in my children  a pure heart, O God, and let their purity of heart be shown in their actions.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10

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RESPECT– Lord, help my children to show proper respect to everyone, as your Word commands.

“Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” 1 Peter 2:17

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RESPONSIBILITY– Please grant that my children would learn to be responsible for each one should carry his own load.

“for each one should carry his own load.” Galatians 6:5

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SALVATION– Lord, I pray that my children would obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

“You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it.” Isaiah 45:8

“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” 2 Timothy 2:10

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SELF CONTROL– Father, help my children not be like many others, but to be alert and self-controlled in all they do.

“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.”   1 Thessalonians 5:6

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SELF DISCIPLINE– Father, I pray that my children may develop self-discipline, that they may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.

“for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair” Proverbs 1:2-3

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SELF ESTEEM– God, help my children develop a strong self-esteem rooted in the realization that they are your workmanship.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

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SERVANT’S HEART– Lord, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly.

“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men” Ephesians 6:7

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WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO WORK HARD– Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything they do, as working for the Lord, not for men.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” Colossians 3:23

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WISDOM– Father, I pray my children would ask and that you would generously give wisdom to them as you promise.

“For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

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