(Adapted from: https://lisaappelo.com/prayers-for-your-college-student/)
10 PRAYERS FOR YOUR COLLEGE STUDENT
1. A Prayer for the New College Student
Dear Lord, I pray for those who are stepping into a new season on a new college campus this year. I pray You will help them with all of the logistics of getting classes, meeting professors, setting up financial aid and getting moved into housing. Surround them with friends who will challenge them to walk more closely with You and guide them to a church where they can serve you while at college. Help them to work hard, to study well and to use this time to develop skills and gifts for Your purposes. As they encounter new challenges, help them love You with their whole heart. As they hear different philosophies, help them love you with their whole mind. As the enemy prowls around tempting them with all manner of worldliness, help them love You with all their strength. Give them courage to follow hard after You and to glorify You where You’ve placed them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
2. A Prayer to Discern God’s Direction
Lord, I pray they will have eyes to see You and ears to hear You as they navigate big decisions about their major, internships, relationships and their future. Please bring clarity to their decisions and peace as they make them. Help them to seek Your will above their own. Help them to know the purpose You have for them. Help them to be patient as You reveal Your perfect will for them and help them to lean not on their own understanding but to trust You to make all of their paths straight. Help them discern when others are speaking wisdom from You. Open doors widely and close them loudly as You lead them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
3. A Prayer for Provision
Dear God, I know You promise to provide every need according to Your riches in Christ Jesus. So I ask you to meet their financial needs while they are in college. Provide for their housing, for transportation needs, for their tuition and books. Help them to honor you with their money, to give cheerfully, and to see Your hand as You meet their needs. Your eye is on the sparrow and You gloriously clothe the lilies of the field and I know You will also care for them. Help us not to worry but to trust You and Your timing and Your ways. Thank You God, that You already have all provision and will meet every need for the schooling You’ve called them to. In Jesus’ name, amen.
4. A Prayer for a Strong Christian Walk
Lord, I pray they will feel Your strong presence as they venture out to college. Draw them to You and give them a hunger for Your Word that isn’t satisfied anywhere else. Help them find a local church where they can grow, be discipled and serve and help them dig deep in Bible study. Help them to guard their own personal time for Bible study and prayer when so much else tries to crowd in and keep them from You. As they meet challenges and struggles, help them turn to You. I pray they will stay rooted in You, will flourish as a light for You on campus and will know how wide and long and high and deep Your love is so that their soul is filled to the full measure of You.
5. A Prayer for Doing Hard Things
God, this next year will bring challenges for them. Perhaps challenges in their faith, their actions, or their studies. Help them to do hard things that glorify You. Help them to stand alone against peer pressure. Help them to stand up for righteousness. Help them to trust Your promises when circumstances are saying different or their emotions are whispering lies. Help them to manage tasks that are outside their skillset or comfort zone. And help them to be an influence for Your kingdom where You plant them this year. In Jesus’ name, amen.
6. A Prayer to Find Godly Friends
Lord, You tell us that bad company corrupts good character and so I pray that You will bring true friends for your child at college. Help your child choose wise friends who will help him grow more like You, who reflect Your heart and will and who glorify You. I pray that the student’s roommates would also be godly, that deep friendship would take root and that the time spent in their dorm or apartment would be edifying. I pray that these friends would be a source of great joy and laughter, and that they would spur each other on to do good things and live for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
7. A Prayer to Resist Temptation
Dear God, my heart is broken over the world that waits to entice students into all kinds of immorality. At the outset, I ask You to powerfully draw your child to You so that Your voice is louder than any other he hears at college. I ask You to surround him with like-minded friends and peers who would encourage and help him keep wise and healthy boundaries. I pray that he would stay in Your word where he can daily renew his mind from the lies of this world. I ask You to strengthen him, to keep him from yielding to any temptation and to clearly open his eyes to the way of escape when temptation comes. May he seek Your will and Your power in any temptation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
8. A Prayer for Managing Time
Lord, You have given your child enough time to accomplish every one of Your purposes this semester. I pray he will seek You first as each day starts and learn to let You order his steps. Help him be a good steward of his time and bless the time he puts into study and work to make it effective. Help him sleep well and not to be stressed or overwhelmed with his schedule. Help him discern unforeseen interruptions that are from You while keeping him from harmful distractions. Give him insight into how to use his time well. In Jesus’ name, amen.
9. A Prayer for His/Her Future Spouse
Lord, I pray that You will bring a godly spouse for your child in Your perfect timing. I pray she will trust You and wait for Your specific will. I pray she’ll pursue You and keep from any relationships that would distract her or keep her from following hard after You. I pray even now that her spouse is also drawing close to You and also following hard after You. Bring godly men and women into both of their lives to disciple them, give them a vision for marriage and prepare them for marriage and parenthood when that comes. May my child’s relationships glorify You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
10. A Prayer for Protection
We pray for physical protection. Thank You Lord, for hemming her in behind and before and for keeping Your hand on her. Keep her safe at night, as she walks on campus, and as she goes to places that are new and unknown to her. Guard her health and keep her physically strong this semester. I also pray for spiritual protection. I pray she will stay grounded in Your Word, that her faith will guard her mind, that Your righteousness will guard her heart and that she will take every thought captive to Your truth. Thank You for being her strong defender and her refuge. In Jesus’ name, amen.
