Before our children are even born, we dream about who they’ll become. We wonder what they’ll love, what their personalities will be like, and how God will use their lives for His glory.
In our home, one of the sweetest ways we’ve prayed for our children is by choosing a life verse for each one—a special Bible verse that reflects our hopes, prayers, and faith in God’s plan for them.
What Is a Life Verse?
A life verse is a Scripture you choose to pray and speak over your child throughout their life. It’s a verse that reminds you of who God made them to be and the truth you want to anchor them in.
We usually choose ours while I’m pregnant or soon after each baby is born. We pray for discernment, think about the meaning of their name, consider what we hope for their life, and then search Scripture for verses that reflect those things.
We don’t do this out of obligation or pressure—but out of joy. It’s simply a way to speak God’s Word over their lives, trusting Him to guide their hearts and shape their stories.
How to Choose a Life Verse for Your Child
If you’d love to start this tradition in your own family, here are some simple steps to help you get started:
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Pray first. Ask the Lord to lead you to the right verse. He knows your child even more deeply than you do.
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Consider their name. Sometimes the meaning of a name points you toward a theme or Scripture.
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Reflect on your hopes. What do you find yourself praying most often for your child?
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Search Scripture. Use a Bible app or concordance to find verses that speak to those qualities or prayers.
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Write it down. Once you’ve chosen a verse, write it in their baby book, hang it in their room, or make it part of your daily prayers.
Living Out Their Verse
We’ve made our children’s life verses part of our everyday rhythm. We’ve framed each verse above their bed, made up little songs to help them remember, and prayed the words together before bedtime.
It’s been such a joy to watch their personalities grow and to see how the verses we chose truly fit who they are becoming. It reminds us that God’s Word is alive and active—shaping their hearts and ours along the way.
This isn’t about perfection or pressure. It’s about planting seeds of truth, so that our children will always know who they are in Christ.
A Word of Encouragement for Parents
If this idea feels new or intimidating—take heart! There’s no one right way to do this. The goal isn’t to choose the perfect verse, but to invite Scripture into your family’s story.
Whether you frame it, sing it, or whisper it in bedtime prayers, God’s Word will not return void. It will take root in your child’s heart in ways you may not even see yet.
“So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
— Isaiah 55:11