Women have the privilege of bringing God’s kingdom into the world by giving birth. This is the kind of life experience that can cause us to turn to the scriptures and pray. There is so many emotions that arise while giving birth, so I have compiled some of the most powerful Bible verses and prayers for birth, labor, and delivery!
Looking back, while I was in labor I felt SO close to the Lord. It’s one of the holiest experiences I’ve been through. For most of my labor, I found myself praying for strength as each contraction came and went.
Although I did not use Bible Verses throughout my labor, I had been praying over them throughout my pregnancy. In the moments when I began to doubt that I could do it, I was reminded of all these verses because I had memorized them. I hope these verses encourage you throughout each stage of your labor!
Praying Through the Stages of Labor
If you’ve been going through a birth course, you know that labor happens in three stages; early labor, active labor, and transition phase. I’m sharing my favorite Bible Verses for each phase because they are so different. Some moms plan on using them throughout labor, while others memorize them so they can pray over them throughout contractions.
Phase One: Early Labor
During early labor, you may not even realize you are in labor. But once you do, you may become a bit anxious. This is when you realize you will be giving birth, all while being so excited to meet your little one.
Prayer for Strength:
Scripture: Isaiah 40:29-31
“He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might. Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall; but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.” (WEB Version)
Prayer:
Dear God, I am weak. I have very little strength left at all. Renew my strength, I need you now, more than ever. Help me make it through another day and prepare for this baby to come into the world. You have given power and increased strength for others, and now I ask you to do so for me. I am so grateful for your help and continual care. Amen.
Prayer for Trusting His Timing
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born…” (WEB Version)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I know that everything comes in your timing. I know that this baby’s time to be born is coming soon, and I am anxious for that time. Please bless me with peace in my heart as I wait for and offer up prayers for safe birth. Please help me to cherish this time and enjoy the last bit of time I have in this pregnancy as much as is humanly possible. I am thankful for the time I’ve had as a pregnant woman of God, and I’m thankful for the time to be born my child will soon experience. Amen.
Phase Two: Active Labor
Photo by Rohit Guntur on Unsplash
This is when contractions get stronger and become more frequent. A woman’s water can break at any time from the beginning of early labor till delivery. During this time, you may be thinking that delivering this child is impossible. But trust in Him, that He will give you the hope and strength you need!
Prayer for Waiting
Scripture: Luke 1:37-38
“For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (WEB Version)
Prayer:
Dear God in Heaven, I am still waiting for this baby to be born, and the pain is making each moment last longer than it usually does. It feels like an impossible task, but I know that with you, nothing is impossible. Let this moment and the next and the next be according to your word. Amen.
Phase Three: The Transition
During the transition phase, everything gets more intense. These scriptures and prayers will help you remember to breath and that something wonderful is happening at the end of it all: the birth of your child!
Prayer for Breathing
Scripture: John 7:38
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (WEB Version)
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, as I focus on breathing during this phase of labor, I remember that your Almighty breath gave me life. In a way, my breath right now gives my child life, and so in this moment, I am drawing closer. Thank you for the life you’ve given me, and thank you for the opportunity to give life to my child. Please bless me with the strength and insight to bring (him/her) to you so that you may give (him/her) life as you have given life to me.
Prayer for Struggle
Scripture: Romans 8:18
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.” (WEB Version )
Prayer: Lord, I am struggling. I know that my suffering is not worthy to be compared with the glory to come. The glory of a safe birth and delivery of this beautiful child coming to me from heaven.
Bible Verses and Prayers for Delivery
Now it’s time to push. This time will be very active, so it may not be possible to read or recite scripture or prayer during this time. However, a support person could read prayers to you during your pushing. You might want to repeat one of the prayers already listed, or you can quell any fear or weakness you feel during that time. Below are two Bible verses and one prayer to help with fear and feeling weak.
Prayer for Fear
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7
“For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” (WEB Version)
Scripture: Isaiah 41:10
“Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.” (WEB Version)
Prayer:
Lord in Heaven, I am afraid, but with You, I don’t need to be afraid. With you, I can only feel power, love, and self-control. You are with me, and that means so much to me right now. Thank you for always being with me and helping me.
Prayers for After Delivery
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
After your little one has safety arrived into this world, you will feel an overwhelming sense of joy and love. Some moms don’t feel that right away, but at some point, you may want to express your joy and gratitude to Jesus, for your delivery and for your child.
Prayer of Thanks + Joy
Scripture: Luke 1:14
“You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” (WEB Version)
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I am full of joy and gladness. I rejoice at the birth of my (son/daughter). You have heard and answered my prayers for safe birth, and I thank you for that. Amen.
Prayer for Answered Prayers
Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:27
“I prayed for this child, and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.” (WEB Version)
Prayer: Oh Lord, I thank you for this beautiful child you’ve given me. I am full of joy because you have trusted (him/her) into my care. Because you have answered my prayers, I promise to love this child and raise (him/her) in righteousness and teach (him/her) about you and the beauty of life on Earth. Amen.
Nursing or Feeding Baby
Photo by Lucy Wolski on Unsplash
You may or may not nurse your baby, but as you feed your infant, you can ponder and reflect on how the Lord has brought you through this journey and given you the precious gift of life.
Scripture: Isaiah 49:15-16
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you! Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are continually before me.” (WEB Version)
Prayer:
Lord, I am thankful for this beautiful baby. I am thankful for my wonderful body and your divine plan that makes it possible for me to feed this baby. Because I could never forget this sweet bundle of joy, I know that you could never forget me. Amen.
How to Incorporate Bible Verses into Labor
These prayers for safe birth and Bible verses for labor will be most effective if you create a plan for how to use them during labor. You might have a medical “birth plan” already started, so this could be part of your spiritual “birth plan.” Writing down the plan somewhere and taking it with you will help you remember how you planned to implement them. There are so many things that slip out of the mind when something big is happening to you, so if it’s important, having it written down will make sure that you remember.
1. Have Support Person Read Aloud
One way to incorporate the verses and prayers is to have someone read them out loud to you. This could be Dad-to-Be or another support person, such as a friend, mother, or doula.
They can read them during contractions or right after one happens. This is a great way to help your support person keep focused on what can sometimes be a lengthy ordeal, and it can bring you closer together spiritually.
2. Record YourSelf
Along these lines, you also could record yourself reading them out loud in a calm voice beforehand and listen to your own voice saying them. You could even use headphones, and then you could be more private about praying, if that’s your wish. You should do whatever feels right for you!
3. Sticky Notes or Index Cards
Of course, you can always read or recite them out loud yourself during labor, such as after each contraction. Writing them by hand on a sticky note or index card might help them to really sink in deeper than just reading them would do, and if you write them on notes before labor, would give you a handy tool to have them available for easy access for reading and sharing during labor.
4. Draw Pictures
You could also draw pictures or create artistic texts of important words to help you focus on the important words and phrases, and that’s something you could do before or during labor. I really like how this suggestion helps to individualize your experience with these prayers! Especially if you’re still at home and dealing with contractions in the middle of the night, drawing and writing might help to focus your mind and your spirit.
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be “an artist,” this could really help you ponder on the divine creation you’re taking part of, and that might be an especially calming activity during an arguably chaotic time.
Conclusion
Giving birth is a responsibility and a privilege. When we do God’s work by having children and raising them to be righteous people, then God will support us through every step of the way. We need to continue to pray and remember Him as we go. He will hear and answer our heartfelt prayers. We need not be fearful, because the Lord is with us, and He makes us strong and gives us self confidence.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. share with your momma friends!!
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