Prayer for dinner table

“Will you please bless the food?”

We’ve all been there…you’re at the dinner table surrounded by friends and family and someone asks you to bless the food. For many of us, any sort of public speaking (even with the ones we love the most) is a little scary! A whirlwind of questions probably go through your head: Do you quote a scripture? Do you pause for a moment of silence? How long should do prayers before meals generally take? What points should you make? And all of those questions, even the ones we didn’t list, are all okay. A prayer before meal is a very sacred and special occurrence.

It’s important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to recite a prayer. The fact that you’re willing to spend this special time with your loved ones and share a meal is very meaningful and will in turn create beautiful memories that everyone will share for a life time.

But having well versed quick prayers, in your back pocket, won’t hurt either. Don’t worry, they’re all super short and direct. Your loved ones will appreciate your sentiment, but also be happy that you weren’t incredibly long winded. Keep these meal prayers close to your heart and you’ll never be caught off-guard again.

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Here is our collection of popular dinner prayers and blessings. There is no better time to speak to God then when you’re gathered around the dinner table with the ones you love.

This first prayer is a very popular before meal blessing. It holds a special place in my heart as I remember fondly my grandfather saying it before dinner when I was a young boy.

My grandpa was a hungry man, and when your hungry, a short blessing is a must!

Come Lord Jesus

Come Lord Jesus,
our guest to be,
and bless these gifts
bestowed by Thee.

Amen.

And here is another variation of this blessing:

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest,
May this food by thee be blest,
May our souls by thee be fed,
Ever on the living Bread. Amen.

Read some traditional Mealtime Prayers.

Read some Wedding Dinner Prayers.

God is Great, God is Good

God is Great, God is Good;
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hands we all are fed,
Give us Lord our Daily Bread.

Amen.

More Simple Mealtime Prayers

Bless Us As We Eat

Thank you, Lord.
These are simple words but they come
from simple hearts that overflow with the
realization of your goodness.

We ask you to bless us as we eat,
bless this food and bless the hands that prepared it.
May the words of our lips spring forth from
hearts of gratitude and may we bless
others as we fellowship today.

Amen.

A Rhyming Meal Prayer

Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the friends we meet.
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you, God, for everything.

Amen.

Giving Thanks

Dear Lord, thank you for this food.
Bless the hands that prepared it.
Bless it to our use and us to your service.
And make us ever mindful of the needs of others.
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

Amen.

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Mealtime prayers are essential conversations with God. Paul tells us to: “Celebrate always, pray constantly, and give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Poverty and starvation are an everyday reality for some, while others of us quench their thirst and put hunger at bay at our leisure. No matter which side of the pendulum we find ourselves on, praying God’s will over our lives and our meals is important. “… for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18b NLT)

Praying God’s blessing over our meals is a simple way to make a big difference on the daily alignment of our hearts. Use dinner time and all other times of eating to recall God’s goodness in your life. It helps us remember that our blessings come from our Creator… who deserves credit for all.

Here are 10 prayers that will fit any mealtime situation, from formal family dinners, to meals on the go at the neighborhood drive-thru:

1. A Prayer That This Food May Fuel Us to Do Your Work

Father, Praise You for the nourishment the You provide. Thank You for meeting our physical needs of hunger and thirst. Forgive us for taking that simple joy for granted, and bless this food to fuel our bodies forward into Your will for our lives. We pray that we will be energized and be able to work for the glory of Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

2. A Prayer in Remembrance of the Hungry

Father, You are mighty and strong to sustain our bodies. Thank You for the meal we are about to enjoy. Forgive us for forgetting how many pray for food to relieve their starvation. Bless and relieve the starvation of those who hunger, Lord, and inspire our hearts to seek out ways that we can help from our abundance. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

3. A Prayer of Confession

Father, This meal is the work of Your hands. You have provided for me, again, and I am grateful. I confess my tendency to forget to ask Your blessing upon my life, through the comforts that You have given me to enjoy. So many people lack these daily comforts and it is selfish of me to forget about them in their need. Show me how to make the most of Your blessing in my life, for everything I have is a gift from You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

4. A Prayer for Family Mealtime

Father, We have gathered to share a meal in Your honor. Thank You for putting us together as family, and thank You for this food. Bless it to our bodies, Lord. We thank you for all of the gifts you’ve given to those around this table. Help each member of our family use these gifts to your glory. Guide our mealtime conversations and steer our hearts to Your purpose for our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

5. A Prayer for Mealtime Fellowship

Father, Praise You for friendship and family! Thank You for bringing us together today to share a meal. The people in our lives bring us such joy, and we are grateful for time spent in fellowship together. Help us use this time to bond closer as a group, and learn to love each other more. Bless our appetites, both physical and spiritual, to honor You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

6. A Prayer for When Someone is Missed at the Table

Father, We are coping with an empty seat at our table. Be with the one we are without, today, and help us to trust in Your timing, purpose, and great love for us all. As we miss ____________ today, we pray Your blessing over him/her/them, and us, and the space in between now and when we see them next. Until then, may this food bless our bodies, and give us strength to endure the day ahead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

7. A Prayer for Dining Out

Father, Bless this establishment and employees as they prepare and serve our food. Thank You for the opportunity to have our meal brought to us, and the ability to relax and enjoy this time with one another. We understand our privilege to be here, and we pray to be a blessing to those we encounter in this place. Bless our conversation, and may we honor You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

8. A Prayer in Remembrance of the Last Supper

Father, As we sit here today preparing to eat this food, we remember Your Son. How He came here as a human being, and ate with His family and friends just like we do. Thank You for the gift of Jesus, and that we can look to Him knowing He understands our hunger. Bless us, Lord Jesus, and stir our hearts to remember You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

9. A Prayer for When Food is Scarce

Father, We come to You hungry, today. It’s hard to understand why we don’t have enough to eat, but we come to You for strength, knowing that You are our provider. Help us to trust that You will sustain us through times of abundance and times of scarcity. Bless us and help us get back up on our feet again. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

10. A Prayer for the Drive-Thru

Father, Thank You for the drive-thru, that saves our time on busy days. We pray for those who prepared our food, and we ask that we would be a blessing to them during our brief encounter today. We remember that they are your children, and that they should be treated with kindness and respect, so that they will be able to see You in our actions. Bless this food to our bodies and keep us safe on the road today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.

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Thanksgiving is a meaningful holiday because it’s the one day of the year when we all take the time to express appreciation for how God is working in our lives. Your Thanksgiving gathering might be small or large, loud or quiet, but no matter the style, every gathering is significant in its own way. Typically, at Thanksgiving dinner we say a word of gratitude for what God has done for us. Use one of these 7 Thanksgiving dinner table prayers at your family gathering this year.

Often, Thanksgiving is known to be something of a landmine of family tension because of the coming together of different political views, beliefs, and behaviors. Take heart – the prayers below are meaningful yet not offensive.

In the post 7 Prayers to Say at the Dinner Table, I listed prayers you can use with your family at dinner every night. Many of those prayers would also be suitable for a Thanksgiving table blessing.

Be sure to download our free The Holy Mess Thanksgiving Printable Planner to make your holiday organized and beautiful.

7 Thanksgiving Dinner Table Prayers

Use one of these Thanksgiving dinner table prayers for your holiday gathering this year.

Simple Thanksgiving Meal Prayer

God,
Thank you for all that you’ve given us.
Bless the cook and bless all those who go without.
Amen.

-from Fr. Jake Martin, SJ

A Prayer from Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanksgiving Prayer 

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Traditional Table Blessing

Bless us, Oh Lord,
and these thy gifts which
we are about to receive from thy bounty,
through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

Thanksgiving Blessing Prayer

O Lord,

Thank you for all the good gifts you have given us.
Thank you for the fine delicate balance of the natural world.
Thank you for the amazing variety of fruit seeds and grains.
Thank you for the beauty of autumn when the greens turn yellow, gold and crimson.

Lord, help us to enjoy this beautiful season,
And the wonderful food you have given us.

Amen.

From www.lords-prayer-words.com

Thanksgiving Prayer for Children 

(a prayer for young children to say)

Lord, thank you for the flowers and thank you for the trees.
Thank you for my special friends and all the fun they bring.
Thank you for the food I eat and thank you for my drink.
But most of all I thank you for the way you love me.

A childrens prayer from www.lords-prayer-words.com

Thanksgiving Table Blessing

By Patricia Gore

Thank You, God
For the food we are about to eat,
For those who are here
To share these blessings,
For the generosity of our hosts
That make this possible.
Bless those who are here
And those who are in our hearts,
And all those who are not
As fortunate on this day.

Amen.

A Short Prayer of Thanks

God, sometimes life gets me down and I find it hard to see things to be thankful for. Open my eyes to see the gifts you’ve given me in my life. I’m going to start by thanking you for loving me enough to come to earth and die so we can live together forever. Amen.

– Wendy van Eyck, Contributor, crosswalk.com

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More Thanksgiving Prayers

Here are links to a few other prayers you might find useful.

Digging Deeper with God – A Thanksgiving Prayer – This prayer is wonderful to read yourself on Thanksgiving morning or share with a group before the meal. Includes a free printable.

A Prayer for Your Thanksgiving Meal – Living Grace Omaha – This prayer begins with a child or children reading a Psalm and the adults following with a prayer.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving – Lutheran Church Missouri Synod – A meaningful prayer that includes several Bible verses.

What prayers do you say at the dinner table? Comment below.

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