A Prayer for the Graduate (Free Printable)
It hardly seems possible, but I have another high school senior this year! When Isaac finishes up in May, we’ll have graduated nine of our twelve children.
That means I’ll be 75% done. That’s three-quarters finished, at least with first generation Flanders. Now that I’m helping school several grandkids, my actual “class size” is expanding again rather than shrinking.
Which is all the more reason to stay on my knees! I’ve uttered lots of prayers on behalf of my children over the years. Here are a few of the specific requests I send up for our seniors.
A Prayer for the Graduate
I put the following prayer points into an acrostic to make them easier to memorize. As you can see, the words spell G-R-A-D-U-A-T-E.
G is for Gratitude
Lord, please help our students feel thankful rather than entitled. Teach them to appreciate & use wisely the gifts with which You’ve blessed them. May they invest their time, strength, talents, aptitudes, abilities, and opportunities in ways that glorify You. (Psalm 100:4; 1 Corinthians 4:7, 10:31; Psalm 90:12; Mark 4:25)
R is for Reputation
God, keep our students mindful that a good name is more valuable than great riches, but that character is even more important than reputation. May they walk in integrity both publicly & privately, honoring You & setting an example in speech, love, faith, & purity. (Proverbs 10:9, 22:1; 2 Peter 1:5-6; Romans 14:8; 1 Timothy 4:12)
A is for Affections
Keep our students’ hearts pure and their affections centered on You, O Lord. Enable them to love You well & love others as themselves. Protect them against any temptations that would draw them into sin. Give them godly friends who will sharpen rather than snare them. (Colossians 3:1-3, Luke 10:27, 11:4; Proverbs 27:17; Psalm 1)
D is for Direction
Guide our students, O God, and make the path straight before them. Help them acknowledge You in all their ways and follow hard in whatever direction You lead. Keep their feet on the straight and narrow way and stay by their side when all others desert them. (Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 7:13-14; Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 23:3-4)
U is for Understanding
Grant our students wisdom and understanding, Lord. May they have ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to serve You. Teach them to love what is good and to shun what is evil, and give them discernment to easily distinguish between the two. (Proverbs 2:2-6, 2:10-11, 20:12; Acts 28:27; Mark 4:22-23; Job 28:28)
A is for Aspirations
God, give our students a clear sense of purpose in life. Align their goals to match Yours; guard them against distraction. May they make it their ambition to please You in everything they do, serving as salt & light as they do their work diligently & cheerfully. (Philippians 2:13-15, 3:14; 2 Corinthians 5:9; Colossians 3:23; Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:11)
T is for Teachers
Lord, raise up godly teachers who proclaim the truth. Maintain in our students a humble & teachable spirit, but one that examines everything they are taught in light of Scripture. Keep them grounded in Your Word & teach them to reason with insight and clarity. (Ephesians 4:11-12; Proverbs 11:2; James 3:13; Psalm 119:98-100)
E is for Endurance
God, give our students grit & perseverance. Renew their strength. Help them budget their time wisely. Grant them the rest they need to keep a sound mind & healthy body. Guard them against fatigue, discouragement, and depression. (2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 12:12; Isaiah 40:30-31; Ephesians 5:15-16; Psalm 127:2; Joshua 1:9)
Want a free printable copy of this Prayer for the Graduate? Click on the image below to download a copy today:
This prayer for graduates joins our other Bible-based prayer guides. Check the others out here: Free Printable Prayer Guides
More graduation resources
Check out a few of our other posts on this topic:
- A Game to Celebrate Your Graduate – a Scattagories-style game for seniors that is perfect for group play
- Free Editable Transcript Template – create an official high school transcript for your student to use for college admission or job applications
- How to Make a High School Diploma – suggestions for homeschooling parents to create beautiful diplomas for their high school graduates
- How to Round out Your High Schooler’s Transcript – fulfilling graduation requirements, plus ideas for awarding credit for extracurricular activities
- How to Write a Senior Tribute – finding the right words of encouragement for your senior can be challenging
- Prayers and Advice Cards for Graduates – let guests share their best words of wisdom with your grad
- Graduation Guest Book – keep a record of guests who attend your graduation exercises
- Getting Your Child Ready for College – a short list of the things we do to prepare our kids for their time at University
- Earning College Credit at Home – how to save time and money on your child’s college education using dual credit and CLEP exams
One more resource that deserves a mention is Summit Student Conferences. This 2-week worldview program teaches young people how to defend their faith in a culture that is increasingly hostile to Christianity.
