This Father’s Day, give the dads in your congregation more than just a miniature tool or shoeshine kit. Cover them with prayer. Here are five ways to pray for fathers of all kinds — and Scriptures to guide you:

Pray that every father will experience and know the love of the Heavenly Father.

• “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8:15).
• “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

Pray that fathers will reflect the character of God the Father in their homes.

• “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13).
• “You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

Pray that dads who are feeling stressed, weighed down, and anxious will give their burdens to God and seek His strength for today and all the days ahead.

• “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
• “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Pray that dads will teach their kids to follow Jesus and find joy in seeing them serve the Lord.

• “The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him” (Proverbs 23:24).
• “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

Pray that fathers — and grandfathers — will enjoy the blessings of families who love and honor them this Father’s Day.

• “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children” (Proverbs 17:6).
• “Honor your father and mother” — which is the first commandment with a promise — “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2-3).