“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.” – 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)
If you learn only one lesson from reading 1 John, it should be this — your prayers are powerful.
And one of the best gifts you can give your sponsored child as we head into the new year is prayer!
Here are five different ways to pray for your sponsored child:
1) Pray that your sponsored child remains healthy throughout 2023
Children have much less developed immune systems than adults. They’re still growing, after all, and they haven’t been exposed to as many diseases yet as their parents. If you’re a parent yourself or have any kids in your life, then you know how often they can get sick.
Sponsorship helps children focus on school by meeting their other basic needs
As a sponsor, you provide medical care for your child to help them if they ever become sick or injured. But of course, you hope for their sake that they rarely need it.
Pray that God will protect your sponsored child from sickness and injury this upcoming year.
2) Pray for your child to succeed in school
Education is the key to helping a child escape poverty. With a solid educational background, they are much more likely to get a good job someday and achieve financial independence for themselves and their families.
But of course, learning new things can be challenging, so pray that your sponsored child doesn’t get discouraged when they are trying to understand a particularly tough subject … and pray that they will do their very best so they can follow their dreams someday.
3) Pray for spiritual growth within your sponsored child
Your sponsored child gets to experience the love of God every day through your tremendous generosity and the care they receive from the staff and teachers at their program. But after you plant that seed in their life, it’s up to the Holy Spirit to do the rest.
Writing to your sponsored child is a great way to show them God’s love!
You can be praying that your sponsored child will be receptive to the Holy Spirit’s leading in the new year. Pray that they will realize just how much God loves them and wants them to show that love to others.
4) Pray over your child’s home life
As you know, most of the children in our sponsorship program come from difficult backgrounds. They may have lost one parent or both, were born into extreme poverty, or suffer from trauma or severe health problems.
The biography you received of your child should tell you a little bit about their background, which will allow you to pray for their specific needs. If they have family members living, pray for them as well — for their mom, dad, grandparents, and siblings.
Pray that, no matter what their family situation may be, they will receive the love and support they need.
5) Pray for God’s peace in your sponsored child’s life
The past few years have been full of uncertainty. First, it was the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 … and then prices of everything from food to fuel skyrocketed in 2022. Thankfully, your sponsorship has carried your child through these difficult times.
Your sponsorship continues to provide your child with essentials like food, educational opportunities, and more
Still, it’s understandable that your sponsored child may struggle with worry sometimes, especially if they live in a country where natural disasters, civil unrest, and other challenges are common.
Pray that God will remind your sponsored child that He is always with them.
Thank you in advance for praying over your sponsored child as we head into the new year. Don’t forget to write your child a letter to tell them how you’ll pray for them this year, too!
It’s a great way to support and encourage them — and help your child start the new year focusing on God.
Not a child sponsor yet? Click the button below to learn how you can provide help and hope to a child in need and give them a brighter 2023.