As a dad of three daughters I immediately adopted the song "Steal Their Hearts" by The Neverclaim as my prayer. The words of the song express exactly the sentiment I want them to know that I think and pray over them.

The song is something that they would like parents to adopt as their prayer over their children as we celebrate Mother's and Father's Day.

This message is the gift God our Father wants parents to have, remembering to give Him all the glory. The band's hope is that the song can start a movement and be a resource for parents to say these words as a prayer over their kids.

In that spirit, this is a playlist of my favorite songs that minister to parents. (You can view my entire list on Amazon here.)

1. "Steal Their Hearts" by The Neverclaim
"Steal Their Hearts" is a wonderful prayer for parents everywhere who want to raise a godly family: "That they would know Your great mercy, and walk in all Your ways... may they sing of sweet salvation and Your amazing grace, 'cause one day I know I'll have to let them go."

I have been so blessed by this song from The Neverclaim, and have joined the band in saying these prayers over my children: "Would You steal their hearts? Would You call their names, in a broken world trying to do the same?", "Would You let them see the Majesty of who You are, Oh Lord, would You steal their hearts?" 
  Natalie Grant sings the lullaby song "When I Leave the Room" directly about her daughters. The gorgeous and tender ballad is yet another highlight on this mesmerizing and worshipful album, Hurricane. One of my favorite moments of every night as a father of three young girls is to visit their rooms and say goodnight prayers with them and pray over them "when I leave the room."

It's a part of every day that I savor, and the song perfectly captures the emotion I feel as a parent. It's a sweet time, hoping they are dreaming big dreams and thinking vertical thoughts. I pray for them to share what is on their hearts with their Heavenly Father, and that they are also thinking of others as greater than their own needs. 
  This song from Hymns for the Christian Life is a prayer for mothers, and fathers, to pray to God over their children for character, for integrity, for godliness, that they would come to know Christ and that our lives would be a good reflection of that. Keith and Kristyn Getty's oldest daughter Eliza Joy appears in the music video. There are some great lyrical nuggets and profound biblical wisdom found in the song including "and whatever comes, seek Him with all your heart" and that's a key message found throughout many of the Getty's songs to "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness."

Other Scriptural paraphrasing that are excellent prayers for all parents found in this song are "may you Trust Him in the end" and "as the road will rise and lead your feet" which harkens to the wisdom found in Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV): "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." A wonderful sentiment in the song that I very much embrace and pray over our three daughters is "May my mistakes not hinder you / But His grace remain and guide you through / this is my prayer for you." Amen. 
  The stark and majestically beautiful song from Need You Now, "I Don't Deserve You," showcases Plumb's wonderful voice. Don't miss how she soars with eagles on this dramatic song. It brings me to tears as I pray along with Tiffany with the incredible lyrics of "I Don't Deserve You." Tiffany wrote the song directly to her song Oliver, and as a father of three daughters, and a chosen son of my Heavenly Father, I can't listen to this gorgeous song without being moved. The picture of God's unconditional love for us after all that we've done wrong is profoundly captured in the chorus: "I don't deserve Your love / But You give it to me anyway / Can't get enough / You're everything I need / And when I walk away / You take off running and come right after me / It's what You do / And I don't deserve You."
  I can perfectly relate to every word Jenny Simmons gorgeously wrote and sings in this song from The Becoming. I've been married for 19 years and we have three beautiful daughters and a safe and lovely home. The tendency as a believer is to focus on the blessings we've received from God and this song is a gut check of my faithfulness. If all of those things were removed from me, would I still understand that I'm blessed and cling to God for my security and hope?

In America, there is a tendency to look to God for prosperity and think if they are faithful, they'll receive gifts. That's true, but they may not look like the American dream. This song is a prayer of thankfulness to God for what He's given us. As believers, putting all of our hope and trust in Jesus as our Savior brings the gift of eternal life. Remember the truth of Deuteronomy 30:19: "Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." You can sing along with Jenny and know for a fact, "No matter how I leave this place, I know I'll see my Savior's face."
  "Father of Mine" stops me in my tracks as Christine D'Clario slays me with her confessional and prayerful vocal style, opening with the imploring and intimate lyrics, "Keep me, keep me, keep me, In Your shadow, Lord For this I know, there is no safer place." Taken from the Deeper album, it is one of the most compelling songs I've ever heard and perfectly captures the intimacy of our relationship with Jesus and He is our Bridegroom and we are all His bride. He is the Father to the fatherless, and as the song tenderly proclaims, He is "Abba, Father of mine." Amen.
  "I Dream of You"--the title track of JJ Heller's latest project--includes her signature "gourmet" stamp with the lyrical phrasing, "My love may you dream of beautiful things, 'til the dawn of the day, bright and new, wherever you go, I want you to know, that when I dream, I dream of you." It also includes harmonica interludes, which I love. "Darling you are my dream come true" is exactly the sentiment I want to pass on to my three daughters who I love beyond what words can express.

This song is a wonderful way to let your children know how you feel about them. As a Christian father, I can really relate to JJ's songs about parenthood. Being a parent is truly a blessing from God. It's not a right to be a parent, it's a privilege. It also requires a selfless attitude and we need to put our children's welfare ahead of our own desires and interests. JJ and Dave Heller are two of my favorite people in all of Christian music because they write songs that are so emotional, vulnerable and authentic. These songs come right from their hearts and express how many of us feel with their gift of songwriting that in turn blesses us as listeners. Thank you, JJ and Dave, for continuing to provide gourmet songs that uplift, challenge and move me. I am also grateful to God for the gift of parenthood.
  Tricia's song "What I Know" (from Radiate) is a beautiful expression of faith in the unseen. We need to have that type of faith that Jesus describes in the Bible, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." This song is a great way to focus on what is most important as we prepare our hearts for contemplating and celebrating the sacrifice and Resurrection of Jesus. The message of this song challenges listeners to think about our own doubts and how Jesus calls us to rely on Him and the power of His resurrection and to remember that He has overcome death and fear. We can know that He is real, He is near, and He is just a breath away. Like Tricia, I am challenged to believe these words when I sing along with her and believe with all of my heart: "What I know, that You my God are real, No matter what I feel, You've never let me go."
  My family has been very blessed by Holly Starr's amazing new modern hymn, "Grace for All," from her latest project, Focus. This has become my family's anthem to sing together, "in Spirit and in Truth." All of us have learned all of the words, which are biblically based on the Truth of God's Word, and the song is an energizing affirmation that "He has Grace for all."

I really connect to the lyrics in the song, "He will meet you where you are." No matter where you are, no matter what you've done, God will find you if you call out to Him sincerely and ask Him for His grace. Even once you are saved, you beat yourself up about failure and feel unworthy of God's love. That's the point. We aren't worthy. This song is a great way to pray in gratitude and submission to God and to affirm to Him and each other that "His grace is all I need, His power when I'm weak, His love that carries me will always be enough." 
  In essence, we each need to personally submit to Jesus as the "King of our hearts." A big part of the story of Love & the Outcome is how they've had to step out in faith, and not by sight, into God's plan for them as a married couple and as a band. Jodi shared about having Jesus at the center of their marriage. That's the key to any healthy relationship, and to finding true joy in Christ which is what He desires for each of us as a fruit of His Holy Spirit. Circumstances should not be the definition of happiness. Joy in Christ can transcend our daily struggles. Making Jesus the Lord of your life will help you with any battle you're facing, anything you've been chasing, and knowing Jesus personally is the source of true hope in life.

I love the prayerful lyrics of this song from their self titled debut: "Come and rule in me, come and be my King." That's a daily prayer worth repeating and singing as a sweet offering to our Savior. This song encourages us to dream big and to not let distractions or lack of faith get in the way of God's plans or purposes for our lives. 

11. "Good" by Dave Barnes
In a lot of ways, this song from Golden Days by Dave Barnes has a psalmist's vulnerability like David saying, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" from Psalm 34:8 (NKJV). The song uses prayer filled phrasing like "I thank God for things that never change" and "help me count these blessings like I should." That's a big part of Christian living, praying back to God with thankfulness for what He has given us, and remembering to lift up our eyes and our voices to Him, who gives all that is good.

When God created us, in His image, He said "it is very good." This song celebrates, like a Valentine's Day love letter, what God wants to hear from us which are our sincere prayers and supplications lifted back to Him. I'm challenged to remember to count my blessings, learn from my mistakes and heartaches, and sing Him this song, as we've all "been given more than we deserve."