Having a loved one serve in the military can be an incredibly challenging and worrying time for parents. As your soldier son faces duties, deployment, dangers, and difficulties, prayer is one of the most powerful ways you can support him. In this blog post, I share 10 prayers you can pray for your son in the military to help protect, strengthen, and sustain him through his service. Read on for practical, Bible-based prayers to cover your child in God’s grace, peace and care.
1. A Prayer for Your Soldier Son’s Protection
Lord, I lift up my precious son to You today. He has chosen to serve his country in the military, to defend and protect the freedoms we hold dear. I pray that You would protect him from all danger as he carries out his duties. Be his shield and refuge, guard him under Your wings. May Your angels encamp around him, delivering him from harm. Uphold him with your righteous right hand so he may carry out his tasks in safety and peace of heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.
2. A Prayer for God’s Grace Over Your Soldier Son
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the grace You pour over my son every day. As he serves in the military, far away from home, I pray for an abundance of Your grace upon his life. May Your unmerited favor rest upon him, Lord. Give him patience and courage to face every challenge. Sustain him through difficulties, through times of waiting or frustration. Remind him that Your grace is sufficient for every task he undertakes. Shine Your face upon him, I pray. Let him walk each day in the knowledge that Your loving grace protects and strengthens, now and always. In Jesus’ name, amen.
3. A Prayer for Your Soldier Son to Turn to God
Lord Jesus, you understand better than anyone the stress and pressure my son faces in the military. Surrounded by difficult people and situations, challenged with making life-altering decisions, he has much need of your wisdom. I pray that whenever he feels overwhelmed, you would remind him to turn to you. Be his stronghold and safe refuge in times of trouble or dismay. Teach him to take every concern to you in prayer, finding peace, guidance and assurance for the path ahead. Help him remember that you will never leave him nor forsake him, that your loving presence is with him even now. Strengthen his relationship with you each day. In your name I pray, amen.
4. A Prayer for Spiritual Protection Over Your Soldier Son
Heavenly Father, today I commit my child afresh into your hands. Guard his heart and mind in Christ Jesus as he serves in the military. Protect him spiritually from all the enemies he may face – discouragement in difficult moments, temptations to make foolish choices. Remind him that his struggles are not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness. Therefore, I pray that you would arm him daily with your spiritual armor so he may stand firm in his faith. Empower him with wisdom from your Word to choose righteousness, love and peace at all times. Uphold him with your mighty right hand, now and always. In Jesus’ powerful name, amen.
5. A Prayer for Your Soldier Son’s Duty and Calling
Lord, I thank you for the high calling and duty you have placed on my son’s life to serve in the military. I pray you would help him embrace his calling with humility, courage and faith. On difficult days, renew his spirit to serve with excellence. Remind him that what he does matters, that his role is important. Give him clarity of mind to carry out each task, attention to detail and wisdom to make good decisions. Sustain him through times of waiting, difficulty or boredom. Minister to him in his moments of rest. Lord, lift his eyes to see how his service fits into your greater plan of freedom, justice and peace for all people. In Jesus’ name, amen.
6. A Prayer for Your Soldier Son’s Relationships
Father God, relationships my son develops in the military can have great impact, for good or bad. I pray you would lead him to life-giving friendships, people who reflect your light. Give him wisdom in relating to those around him, that he may choose words and actions that inspire community, respect and understanding. Keep him from pride or judgment towards others. Help him bridge divides wherever there is friction or misunderstanding. Where relationships are difficult, I pray you would give him grace to love well, to choose kindness over retaliation, peacemaking over strife. Remind him that each person is precious in your sight. In Jesus’ name, amen.
7. A Prayer for Your Deployed Soldier Son
Lord Jesus, as my beloved son deploys on his military assignment, I commit him to your safekeeping. Be his rock, fortress and deliverer in this time of uncertainty. Give him wisdom beyond his years to make the right decisions, even in the heat of difficult moments. Build resilience into his spirit so he will not grow weary or lose heart. Most of all, assure him of your constant presence, powerful and strong to save. Quiet his fears with the confidence that you will never leave him nor forsake him. May your perfect peace, which surpasses understanding, guard his mind and heart. And finally, loving Lord, enable me to rest in the knowledge that you hold my son securely in the palm of your hand. In your mighty name I pray, amen.
8. A Prayer for Your Soldier Son’s Wellbeing and Growth
Lord, I know being in the military brings immense challenge to my child – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Therefore I bring him to your throne of grace today, asking that you would guard his wellbeing and growth in every dimension. Keep his body physically fit, alert and active for the task. Protect his mental state from undue anxiety or trauma. Guard the health of his emotons, delivering him from despair. Most of all, continue growing in him passion for your Kingdom, insight into your Word. Build perseverance and maturity into every fibre of his being, shaping him daily into the likeness of Christ. Lord, clamp him tightly to your side, that your loving presence would strengthen and uphold him through his military service from start to finish. In Jesus’ name, amen.
9. A Prayer to Sustain Your Soldier Son’s Hope
Dear Jesus, the days stretch long when my child is separated from all he knows. Deployment days can often feel vacant, purposeless and disheartening without loved ones near. Therefore I ask that you would fill those days with your abiding presence. Sustain him with the comfort only your Spirit can bring. Nourish in him a vibrant hope in you that will not diminish or fail. Pour over him daily reminders of your sovereignty, power and great love for him. Protect him from destructive thoughts, cynicism or patterns that diminish his zeal for you. Ignite in him again, I pray, passion for your coming Kingdom. Fan into flame his gifts and calling during this time set apart. Lord Jesus, infuse my beloved son with inexhaustible hope amid long days of deployment. In your matchless name, amen.
10. A Prayer of Blessing Over Your Soldier Son
Most loving Lord, I thank you for the gift of my son, serving in the military. Today I bless him in your mighty name, asking for your richest favor and mercy to cover every dimension of his life. I declare that he is strong in you and your mighty power. I proclaim that he walks wise, righteous and courageous by the light of your Word. I bless him with patience, integrity and peace as he deals with superiors, peers and those under his leadership. Most of all, I thank you that he belongs to you, sealed and commissioned for your purposes. May your Kingdom come, your will be done in and through my child’s life, from this day forth and forevermore. In Jesus’ victorious name, amen.
Remember as you pray for your soldier son that God hears you and will protect, strengthen and sustain your child. Claim these powerful scriptures as you intercede for your loved one:
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:18)
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
May the Lord bless you and keep your son safe as he serves his country.