Prayers for ADD & ADHD Children  

Comments by Donna Watkins: "I dedicate this page to our son, Benjamin, and to all the generations of our family that come after him. If it were not for prayer and our faith in God, we would not have made it through the difficult challenge we had as a family. My prayer for each of you is that you could look beyond the mundane tasks of the day that need to be accomplished, to the more important issues of life, and be able to discern between the two.

An ADD/ADHD child in your home will certainly demand much attention and time, but it is time well spent. A grandmother said, "There's nothing wrong with ADHD kids, it's just that the world doesn't move fast enough for them."

They were created by God for a special purpose and to that we must assign our own focus.

If you'd like to get to the spiritual/emotional roots of this disease, I'd recommend a book entitled, "A More Excellent Way" by Henry Wright. This book has changed my life around and made me realize what was at the root of this health problem and many others.

"She grieves the chill of an estranged relationship with one of her children. Blaming herself, she struggles to let go of the "if onlys" and longs for the warmth of reconciliation. She lives with the dull ache of unspoken anger and the sting of love turned dutiful. Winter's cold is not always cozy and the Winter years are not always golden. Yet we each, in our own ways, do the best we can for those we love. Our love is always human, always short of perfection. We, too, will be inadequate stewards of our children's childhoods, incapable of meeting the needs of those we would wish to spare from all of life's hurts and disappointments. Although I can't offer healing to one who lives in the Winter years or bears a wintry heart, I can offer hope. The God of Spring's new life, of Summer's joy, and of Autumn's fullness is also the God of Winter's chill. Although we never know what lies buried beneath the frozen stillness, we can trust that surely, surely, after Winter comes the Spring."

Psalm 33:18-22 - "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.

Hebrews 6:19a - "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."

These Prayers Are Adapted From "Prayers That Avail Much"
by Word Ministries, Inc.

Prayer for the Parents/Caregiver
Caregivers of ADD/ADHD children often find themselves in situations that far exceed their parenting skills. Much prayer and faith are required to see the ADD/ADHD child as God sees him/her. The emotional turmoil and disruption to the household often become overwhelming and caregivers sometimes discover that the challenges are greater than themselves.

Responsible adults involved in the life of an ADD/ADHD child need godly wisdom, spiritual discernment, and mental and emotional alertness to overcome weariness, bewilderment, and anxiety. Words spoken to the child and over him/her can comfort, giving him/her hope - or they can reinforce his/her belief that he/she is bad and that something terrible is wrong with him/her. Words can heal or words can wound.

The prayers of the ADD/ADHD child must be reinforced by those who love him/her. Often, our image of another individual - even our children - can only be changed as we pray according to God's will and purpose for him/her. Remember that through it all, God is faithful!

The Prayer:
Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for this very special child. You see my confusion, anxiety, frustration, and bewilderment as I attempt to rear him/her in the training, discipline, counsel and admonition of the Lord. Forgive me for times when I knowingly or unknowingly irritate and provoke him/her to anger.

You see my intense pain when I observe the rejection this child suffers by adults who speak harsh words against him/her and our family. Children refuse to play with him/her, and it hurts even though I understand. I know that those who have never walked in our shoes cannot fully understand.

But, Lord, where others are unmerciful and unkind, You are merciful and kind. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in Your house forever. Hide us in the secret place of Your presence and keep us secretly in Your pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Lord, perfect the fruit of my lips that I may offer to You effective praise and thanksgiving for this child who is a blessing from You. His/her intellect astounds me, and his/her wit is a delight. I ask You for divine intervention and guidance as I train him/her up in the way that he/she should go. I thank You for the awesomeness of Your handiwork, and the techniques that You have given him/her to survive, to overcome emotional turmoil - and the ability to function in this world around us. Truly, this child is fearfully and wonderfully made. I plead the blood of Jesus over him/her to protect him/her in every situation.

You have a divine purpose for this child. You have foreordained steps that he/she is to walk in, works that he/she is to do. Help me to look at his/her strengths and weaknesses realistically, that I may know how to help him/her develop and demonstrate self-control techniques. Forgive me for times when I lose patience and berate him/her for his/her behavior. Sometimes, I lose sight of who he/she really is. Anoint my eyes to see him/her as You see him/her.

Father, help me to speak words of grace; anoint my lips to speak excellent and princely things about and to him/her. May the opening of my lips be for right things. Help me to give him/her healthy doses of unconditional love, appropriate discipline for misbehavior, and rewards for his/her good behavior. Anoint my lips with coals of fire from Your altar that I may speak words that comfort, encourage, strengthen, and honor him/her. Keep watch at the door of my lips, and forgive me when my patience has come to an end.

Father, You are my Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Strengthener. Whatever comes my way, help me to consider it joyful, allowing endurance and steadfastness and patience to have full play and do a thorough work, so that I may be perfectly and fully developed, lacking in nothing. When I am deficient in wisdom, I will ask of You, and You will give wisdom to me liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or finding fault in me.

I pray that I may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of Your glory, and every kind of endurance and patience with joy.

Father, You have seen the tears in the night season, and I know that I shall experience the joy that comes in the morning. You are my Exceeding Joy! You are my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Thank You for being my constant Companion.

Lord, I see my child, ___________, growing and becoming strong in spirit, increasing in wisdom and in stature and years, and in favor with You and with man. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen!

Coming Against ADD/ADHD
Father, in the name of Jesus, I come against ADD/ADHD and say that I have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts of His heart. I am able to concentrate and stay focused on each task.

I am a disciple taught by You, Lord, and great is my peace and undisturbed composure. I do not have a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a calm, well-balanced mind with discipline and self-control.

In the name of Jesus, I come against my defiant behavior and tantrums and hyperactivity and speak peace and love to the situations in which I find myself. I cast down imaginations and every high thing that would exalt itself against the knowledge of You, Lord, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Father, I ask for Your wisdom to reside in me each day as I learn new techniques for handling stressful incidents.

Father, Your Word says not to worry about anything but to pray and ask You for everything I need and to give thanks when I pray, and Your peace will keep my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. The peace You give me is so great that I cannot understand it.

Thank You for keeping my mind quiet and at peace. I declare that I am an overcomer. I am in control. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Making New Friends
Father, I am asking You to supply me with good friends I can relate to, spend time with, and enjoy as You intended. I desire to develop relationships that will be lasting and helpful to both me and my friends.

Father, I will keep sound-minded, self-restrained, and alert. Above all things I purpose to have intense and unfailing love for others, for I know love covers a multitude of sins.

I ask You to help me manage my behavior and attitude so others will want to be around me. I purpose to bridle my tongue and speak words of kindness. I will not insist on having my own way, and I will not act badly. When someone is unkind and falsely accuses me, help me to maintain a cool spirit, and be slow to anger. I commit to plant seeds of love, and I thank You for preparing hearts ahead of time to receive me as a friend and as a blessing to their lives.

Father, thank You for causing me to find favor, compassion, and loving kindness with others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Having a Bad Day
Father, this was not a good day. My scores were low. It was a hard day for me at school and at home. I feel that I messed up a lot. Because I know that You love me unconditionally, and You are not holding anything against me, I come to talk with You.

Father, You expect me to be accountable to You, my teachers, and my parents for my behavior*. I ask Your forgiveness for acting mean and disrespectful to ________________. I acknowledge my misbehavior, and I ask You to forgive me for _________________.

Thank You, Lord, for helping me as I learn good social skills, and how to do unto others as I want them to do unto me.

Father, I release my disappointment to You, and believe that tomorrow will be a great day! In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

*Note to Parent: Effective reprimands should be brief and directed at the child's behavior, not at the character of the child. Direct him/her in assuming responsibility for his/her actions, acknowledging and asking forgiveness when appropriate.