Our Dedication Prayer for our Kids + How To Write Your Own
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This past Sunday we had the honor of dedicating our children to the Lord, before our friends and family, and church community. We never got around to dedicating our son after he was born (the pandemic hit once he was three months old, and then we eventually moved to a new church, so it just never happened). With our daughter approaching her first birthday, we finally jumped on the opportunity to dedicate both of our kids at the same time.
I wish so much that we could have invited absolutely everyone in our lives that has supported and encouraged us in our journey as a family. It’s so true that it takes a village to raise these kids and we have some pretty incredible people in our village! Since it wasn’t feasible to invite everyone to be there in person, we wanted to make sure to share our prayers of dedication for these kids here on the blog. It’s our desire to have these prayers be public - they are prayers to Lord, but they are public so that others can join us in support and encouragement as we parent Oliver and Ainsley!
Our Child Dedication Prayers
Child Dedication is a commitment that parents (and sometimes families) make before the Lord and the church to submit a child to God’s will and to raise that child according to God’s Word and God’s ways. It is also a commitment from the community of believers, that they will come alongside the parents to do the same.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” - Deuteronomy 6:5-7
“[Jesus] said to them, “Let the children come to me…” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” - Mark 10:13-16
I’m going to share the personalized prayers that we wrote out to each of our children for their dedication, but I’m also going to include in this post some helpful tips when writing your own dedication prayer for your child, plus some of the most encouraging Bible Verses that you could use in your child dedication prayer!
Here are the prayers that my husband wrote out for our children:
Our Words to Oliver
Oliver, you are an active boy, who feels strong feelings, you have a soft heart and love bringing joy to those around you. You are such a loving son and a caring big brother and God has blessed us by allowing us to be your parents.
Psalm 29:11 says, “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” From the beginning, you brought peace to our hearts as parents and our prayer is that God would use your compassionate heart to bring his love and peace to those around you. We pray that God would give you strength and courage to be a man after his own heart and that you would follow Jesus and live a life full of grace and truth.
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
Our Words to Ainsley
Ainsley, you are a strong-willed, persistent, and brave young girl. Your middle names come from two beloved women, who both modeled God’s love and joy to everyone around them. Our prayer is that, as it says in Romans 12:12, you would “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and be constant in prayer.” We pray that God will grow you into a strong woman of faith and that you will be a true friend to others, a follower of Jesus whose life would be a source of joy and hope to the broken.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer.”
Our Prayer for Oliver + Ainsley
Oliver and Ainsley, as your parents, we commit to being patient and understanding with you. To model God’s love and authority, to speak the truth of scripture into your life and to always point you to the gospel of grace and forgiveness. Today we join with this community of believers, family and friends to commit your life to God, that you would know, love and follow him from a young age and that God would take your lives and use them for his glory.
Watch our Dedication Prayer
How to Write a Child Dedication Prayer
Writing a child dedication prayer can be a daunting task, but with these tips and examples, you can create a meaningful and heartfelt prayer for your child's dedication ceremony.
Child dedication is a special ceremony where parents publicly commit to raising their child/children in a faith-based environment. As part of the ceremony, a child dedication prayer is often recited. If you're struggling to write a prayer for your child's dedication, don't worry! With these tips and examples, you can create a beautiful and meaningful prayer that reflects your love and hopes for your child. Usually, you will only have a few minutes to share your Child Dedication Prayer, so you don’t need to think about writing a book! Just a single sentence (or two) for each of these next sections will help you to craft a beautiful prayer to share with your community and keep for your child for years to come!
Start with Gratitude & Praise
When writing a child dedication prayer, it's important to start with gratitude and praise. Begin by thanking God for the gift of your child and for the opportunity to raise them in a faith-based environment. You can also praise God for His love, grace, and mercy, and for the blessings He has bestowed upon your family. Starting with gratitude and praise sets a positive tone for the rest of the prayer and helps to create a sense of reverence and awe.
Express Hopes & Dreams for Your Child
One of the most important aspects of a child dedication prayer is expressing your hopes and dreams for your child. Take some time to share briefly about your child’s personality (if they are old enough and this is applicable) and reflect on what you want for your child's future, and how you hope they will grow and develop. Whatever your hopes and dreams may be, be sure to express them in a heartfelt and sincere way, and ask for God's blessings and guidance as your child grows and matures.
Acknowledge the Role of Family & Community
When writing a child dedication prayer, it's important to acknowledge the role of family and community in your child's life. You may want to thank God for the support and love of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members, as well as the guidance and wisdom of your church community. You can also ask for continued support and guidance from these important people in your child's life, and pray that they will be positive influences as your child grows and develops. Remember, a child's upbringing is a team effort, and it's important to recognize and appreciate the contributions of everyone involved.
Include a Meaningful Verse from Scripture
Adding a meaningful verse from Scripture to your child's dedication prayer can add depth and significance to the prayer. Look for verses that speak to your hopes and dreams for your child, or that offer comfort and guidance as you navigate the challenges of parenthood. Some popular verses for child dedication prayers include Deuteronomy 6:5, Jeremiah 29:11, and Proverbs 3:5-6. Be sure to choose a verse that resonates with you and your family, and that reflects your faith and values.
Close with a Blessing & Commitment to Raising Your Child in Faith
As you conclude your child dedication prayer, it's important to offer a blessing for your child and a commitment to raising them in faith. You may want to ask for God's guidance and protection as your child grows, and pray that they will develop a strong relationship with God. You can also express your commitment to teaching your child about God's love and grace, and to setting a positive example through your own actions and words. Remember, your child's dedication ceremony is just the beginning of their spiritual journey, and it's up to you to help guide them along the way.
15 Encouraging Bible Verses for Child Dedication Prayers
Hopefully, you have a meaningful verse for your child or family that comes to mind as you are writing your Child Dedication Prayer, but if not, I have compiled a list of some encouraging Bible Verses that you could use in your Dedication Prayer!
“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.”
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
““For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.””
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives”
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.”
“Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
“Don’t fear, because I am with you; don’t be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will surely help you; I will hold you with my righteous strong hand.”
“The Lord gives his people strength; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
