10 Prayers to Pray For Your College Student

I’ll never forget the long drive home after we dropped our oldest daughter off at college for the first time. She was attending a university seven hours from home, and all I could think of was all the things that could go wrong.

What if she didn’t get along with her roommate?

What if she struggled with her classes?

What if she got injured or really sick?

What if she didn’t make good friends?

What if the friends she made led her down the wrong path?

What if she walked away from God?

There were more “what ifs” than my momma heart could handle! Thankfully, in the middle of that spiral, I heard the Spirit’s gentle voice reminding me of what I knew was true:

She belonged to Him.

He loved her more than I did.

Her dad and I were driving away, but He would never leave her.

She was not alone.

I clung to these truths during the many days that followed. This is my sixth year in a row sending grown children off to college, and I once again find myself returning to what I learned that first year—the Lord can do all the things I can’t for my college kids.

If you are nervous or sad about your child leaving for college, the most impactful thing you can do is be intentional in how you pray for them. Jesus is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). He will hear and answer our prayers on behalf of our adult children.

Here are 10 prayers to pray for your college student:

1. Pray that their identity will be rooted in Christ.

The world constantly tries to deceive our kids into believing that their identity is defined by what they do or how they feel. But God says they are His beloved children, His masterpieces. Pray that your college students will recognize that what they do flows out of who they are and will ground themselves in their faith instead of their feelings or accomplishments.

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-7, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Timothy 4:14, Philippians 1:6

2. Pray that they will submit to God and flee temptation.

Your college student is certain to encounter plenty of enticements along with their recent independence. This is nothing new—Satan has been tempting mankind with so-called freedom since he whispered to Eve in the Garden of Eden. Pray that your child will “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

Scripture: James 4:7, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 2 Timothy 2:22

3. Pray that “sin would be bitter and Christ would be sweet.”

This quote, adapted from Puritan preacher Thomas Watson, gets to the heart of what so many of us fear and desire for our college kids. Unfortunately, we cannot protect them from temptation or choose a straight path for them. We can, however, pray that when they do give in to sin, it will not sit well with them, and the Holy Spirit will lead them to repentance.

Scripture: Psalm 32, Hebrews 10:22, Romans 12:2

4. Pray for strong, godly friendships.

We become like the people we spend the most time with. Pray that God will surround your student with people who love Jesus and desire to walk closely with Him. Pray for friends who are honest and compassionate, who aren’t afraid to speak the truth in love, and who are loyal and trustworthy. Pray that these friends will be strong in the areas of your child’s weakness so they can strengthen and balance one another, and build one another up in Christ.

Scripture: Proverbs 27:5-6, 10, 17

5. Pray for godly mentors and advisors.

There will be many new voices speaking into your child’s life during the college years. As they launch into this new stage of independence, your child may not have developed the discernment to differentiate between wisdom, foolishness, deception, and charm. Ask the Lord to send them at least one godly mentor who will listen, pray, and speak wisdom into their life.

Scripture: Exodus 18: 13-27, Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 20:18

6. Pray that your child will hear and obey God’s voice.

For most of their life, our kids have had us right there to help them navigate the world. However, these are the years when they learn to hear God’s voice and decide for themselves whether or not to obey. God is clear in His Word that if we pray, He will answer, and if we seek Him, we will find Him. Pray that your student will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, will learn to hear God’s voice, and have a heart that desires to obey Him.

Scripture: Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 25:4-5, John 14:26, John 16:13

7. Pray that they will draw near to God and remain in Him.

It will be difficult for your son or daughter to hear God’s voice if they do not have a close relationship with Him. But James assures us that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Pray with the author of Hebrews that your child will approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that they may receive mercy and find grace to help them in their time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Pray that they will long for Jesus as a deer pants for water, as the very air they breathe.

Scripture: James 4:8, Hebrews 4:16, Psalm 145:18, John 15:5

8. Pray that your student will find a Biblical church and a strong Christian community.

Your child needs to be in community with other believers for their faith to flourish. Not only do they need a place where they can grow, but they also need a place to serve. Pray that your child will not drift away, but will find a church they love and surround themselves with a strong Christian community.

Scripture: Psalm 92:12-13, Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Colossians 3:17

9. Pray they will grow in spiritual and emotional maturity.

Part of growing up involves developing spiritual and emotional maturity. Our young adult children need to be able to discern not just between right and wrong but also between right and almost right. Pray that they will not be distracted by cultural trends, deceived by false teachers, or ruled by their feelings, but instead grow in maturity through the transformation of their heart and mind.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-15, 1 Peter 2:2, Romans 12: 1-2, Colossians 2:6-7

10. Pray that your child will be a Light to others.

Jesus commands all of us, even college students, to go into the world and make disciples of all nations. So many young people today are lost and searching for an anchor that will hold in the inevitable storms of life. Pray that your child will let their light so shine before others, that those around them may see your child’s good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 28:19