We are always happy when our family and loved ones gather together. It is blessed time when we get together with the friends and family. Sometimes we haven’t seen them in several months. Families come in all shapes and sizes (including adoptive and step families). The things that binds us together are love and loyalty. Family is important to God. When we pray for our family members, it shows that our family is important to us. Don’t forget prayer for family members.
Set Your Heart in Line with God’s Heart
Bringing our needs to God isn’t simply listing the things we need, and then walking away. Prayer is about enjoying intimacy with God, our Lord and Savior. Offer God praise (if you need a place to start, choose a chapter from the book of Psalms). Repentance is an opportunity to ask God for His forgiveness. Let’s face it, we all need His grace!
Dear Lord,
I praise You because You are wise and powerful (Daniel 2:20). You have given Your people peace and You keep Your promises (1 Kings 8:56). Lord, please forgive me for things I have done or words I have said that failed You. Please give me the wisdom to do better (1 John1:9). I acknowledge that the things I have been blessed with come from You (James 1:17).
Prayer for Family
Next, bring the needs of your loved ones to God in prayer for family. Please note, these are very general things to ask for. You can personalize this as you need to.
Lord, I bring my family members to You. I ask that You give them:
Health – Lord, maintain my loved one’s health (3 John 1:2)
Wisdom – Lord, give my loved ones the wisdom they need in the situations they are facing (Psalm 25:4-5)
Peace – Lord, give my loved ones strength and peace (Psalm 29:11)
If a family member has a specific need, look up a Bible verse that relates to their needs and include it in your prayer for them. For example, to pray for a family member who is going through a tough time:
Lord, Psalm 9:9 says, “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Right now my loved one is troubled because she lost her job. Please be her refuge. Provide for her needs, protect her family, and lead her to the right job.”
Prayer for Yourself
As the member of a family, you have an important place. You need your family, but your family also needs you! Pray that God will help you to be the best member of your family as possible. Here are a few suggestions for how to pray for yourself:
Lord, I want to honor you by honoring my parents and by looking out for the younger members of my family. I need Your help! I want to demonstrate love to my family, handle problems with patience, and give generously.
Love – Please give help me to love others because You first loved me (1 John 4:19, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
Patience – Please help me to be patient with my loved ones (Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 6:4)
Generosity – Please help me to put the needs of others before my own; to be generous with my time and resources (1 Timothy 5:8, Acts 10:2).
Why Prayer is Important?
Family is important to God. We were not created to be “lone wolves” – we need each other (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)! That is why God gave us the special community called family. God has given family to us for support, love, and companionship. At the same time, family is the place where we learn important things like patience.
How should we treat our family members? The Bible provides some guidelines about how families should interact and treat each other:
- “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12)
We should treat the family members, especially those that are our seniors, with respect.
- “Children are a heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127-3-5)
God entrusts parents with children. But I believe this also extends to looking out for the well-being of younger family members.
These verses, and many others, show that God cares for us and for the family unit. How can you deepen and strengthen your relationships with your loved ones? Prayer for family is an important part of keeping family relationships strong!
Time is Love
Time spent in prayer is important because time is a valuable and finite resource. When we bring our needs to God in prayer, we show that we trust Him.
Consider what it means for your loved ones when you bring their needs to the Lord in prayer! When we pray for our family members, it shows that our family is important to us.
Prayer for family is an investment of our time
How should I pray for my family?
Prayer for family is an opportunity to bring your loved ones’ needs to Him. Prayer is simply talking to God, but sometimes we just don’t know where to start. I’ll suggest a prayer here and then we can talk about it in more detail.
Here are a few suggestions for before you pray:
- Think about the last time you talked with your family members. What was going on in their lives? Make a list of your family members and any prayer concerns you know they have.
- If you aren’t sure what to pray for send a text to your family member and simply ask them, “How can I pray for you?”
- Write your list on an index card. Keep it in a private place and refer to it during your prayer time. When you communicate with your loved ones, ask them if they have experienced an answer to prayer.
Also read: SHORT FAMILY PRAYER
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Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…of the oven timer going off letting you know the turkey is done!
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, have you thought about saying a Thanksgiving prayer? For family, it might already be a tradition, whether it’s saying grace before dinner or a prayer at the conclusion of the wonderful family gathering. Maybe it’s even sharing a few Thanksgiving Bible verses with the family. Whatever the case, you probably stumbled upon this article because you were looking for a Thanksgiving prayer for family.
Of course, when it comes to saying a Thanksgiving prayer for family, the words best come from the heart. While this may be easy for some, others have a tough time finding the words, even in front of a room of people they’ve known their whole lives (I’m guilty)!
If you prefer to write your own Thanksgiving prayers, here are a few tips for you for writing a dinner prayer.
Table of contents
Thank God for…
Bringing the family together: Every Thanksgiving prayer for family should make at least one mention of a thank you for bringing the family together safely! After all, it wouldn’t have been possible without God, right?
The meal: Food is a huge blessing, and so many go without it on a continuous basis. Having an abundance of food should not be taken for granted, and thanking God for it is a must in a Thanksgiving prayer.
Dessert: As if the meal wasn’t enough food, you likely have a nice, warm pumpkin pie waiting to be consumed on an already full belly following your meal. Be thankful and gracious to those who provided the tasty offerings!
Special sentiments: Think of a thing or two that you are personally thankful for. Keep it related to family, whether it’s a cousin that recently won a battle against cancer, a recent family member’s accomplishment, or maybe a new addition to the family!
Sample Prayers
You are aware of what types of things to include in a Thanksgiving prayer for family, but perhaps you would still prefer to find a prayer to use instead of writing your own. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, and here’s a few examples that you can make your own:
Thanksgiving Prayer #1:
Our Father in Heaven, It is with great pleasure that we gather here today, together, and in good health. With all going on in this world, we know just how blessed we are that you have made this possible. We just thank you so much for this meal that we are about to enjoy, and pray that those who could not be with their families on this day can find total comfort in you. Thank you for the blessings! In your name we pray, AMEN!
Thanksgiving Prayer #2:
Dear God, As we sit around this table with the blessings of being able to be together face-to-face, we are thankful that you brought us here by your grace. Thank you for this warm meal, cheers, and that we get to gather today. We honor you as we enjoy this meal and the delicious pumpkin pie! Amen.
Thanksgiving Prayer #3:
Our Heavenly Father, First of all, thank you for giving us this opportunity to get together on this joyous holiday. We know that it was made possible by you, and we are overjoyed to be rejoicing in you before our meal. We are grateful for this warm food and the hands who put it together. We also pray for others who could not be with their families today. Be with them and give them comfort. Thank you for everything you continue to do for us. In God’s name we pray, amen.
When it comes to a prayer, it’s always a beautiful thing and you really cannot go wrong. Just be thankful for everything you have, every single day, even outside of the prayer. When you talk to God, it’s just you and him; finding the right words to say will come naturally.
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QUESTION: How important is prayer for families?
ANSWER:
Prayer for families is the very foundation that keeps a family unit together. Have you heard the phrase “A family that prays together stays together”? The concept is true – a family that has their focus on praying to the Lord Jesus Christ has a foundation that may be shaken at times, but it will withstand all that comes against them.
It’s important for parents to have their children involved in family prayer because this helps build the children’s relationship with the Lord and also teaches them the importance of prayer. Families that pray together establish trust with one another, learn to pray in a fellowship, and come in agreement through Jesus. These disciplines help bring unity to the household.
The family is a small church and our ministry first starts at home. In 1 Timothy 3:5 we read, “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?” Managing your family is caring for each member, teaching them God’s ways, leading them to grow in the Lord, and equipping them for adult life. Prayer is an important element in this process. A family who has a heart of prayer for each other will have a heart of prayer for the world.
Prayer for families can be done in a variety of ways – by you in your prayer closet, by praying together with your spouse, praying together as a family unit, and praying with friends. Praying for your family not only lays a foundation for family life, it also surrounds your family with protection and peace.
In many cases, the Lord reveals specific needs for your family members. He reveals pain that they may be feeling or certain things that are drawing them away from fellowship with Him. Praying for your family can give you insight from the Lord and most of all, prayer will bring you comfort as God reminds you of His promises. Perhaps some members of your family do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Prayer for the unsaved is vital.
Prayer for Families – Sample Prayers
- Prayer for protection and provision – Father, Thank you for my family. I ask that you bless them with Your favor. Provide for all of their needs. I ask You to protect them from harm and evil. Surround them in the shadow of Your wing. Go before them and prepare the way for them. If any path is crooked, I ask you to make it straight. Protect them from the schemes of the enemy and keep them from deception. Bring Your perfect peace to their hearts. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
- Prayer for unity – Father, I thank you for blessing me with my family. I ask you to bring us into unity through You. I ask that anything that is hidden in darkness – to cause disunity – will be brought to light. I ask You to lead us into Your perfect truth and help us to be the family You intend us to be. Lord, help us to be a blessing to one another and to others. Reveal Yourself to us and let us come into agreement with You. Lead us in Your ways. Grant us compassionate hearts, fill us with Your love that does not keep records of wrong, and bring joy to our hearts when we think of one another. Bring Your perfect peace and unity into our family. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
– We have all
sinned
and deserve God’s judgment.
God
, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him.
Jesus
, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He
died
for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was
buried
, and
rose from the dead
according to the
Bible
. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your
Savior
, declaring, “
Jesus is Lord
,” you will be saved from
judgment
and spend eternity with God in heaven.
What is your response?
Yes, today I am deciding to follow JesusYes, I am already a follower of JesusI still have questions
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“Make every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit has already created, with peace binding you together.” (Ephesians 4:3)
Here is a wonderful prayer to use to close a meeting, church service, or any type of gathering! Use your departure as a time to thank God and ask for His protection and blessings.
Father, praise You for the gift of unity that the Spirit creates in our relationships! You place others perfectly in our lives, and inspire us as Christians to work together with the gifts that we have been blessed with. When we look at this meeting through Your eyes, we see Your gifts fostered in us to further Your plans.
Forgive us, Father, for the control and the credit that we grasp for in these meetings while planning and accomplishing projects together. We confess that honoring You through our work is not always at the forefront of our minds as we strive for end goals. In the spaces of our hearts that harbor envy and ambition, we prayerfully ask You to make room for humility and shared credit.
The church doesn’t stand on any one person’s’ shoulders. Not one of us can further Your plans on our own. But together, we can complement each other’s strengths and cancel out our weaknesses. As a team, a unified body focused on the gospel of Christ, we can do great things in Your honor as we were purposed to do.
Thank You for the ideas that You spoke life into here today, and for the courage of each voice that stood to be heard. In each one of us lies a puzzle piece. One by one, as we stand and speak and work, we see our individual pieces moving into place. We continue to strive for Your will, piece by piece, until You call us home.
Bless all of us in this meeting today. Each of us have a life outside of these walls. There are very real hurts that some are coping with, and needs of others that we ache to help with and meet. Take that stirring of love that we feel for each other and guide our steps to be faithful friends and extensions of Your love to those that You have seated beside pf and across from us today. As we bow our heads and lift up our plans to You, we pray that You bless our hearts and minds to know we have done well in Your eyes. We pray for your assurance that we are operating within Your will.
Lord, we believe that You will provide for us. We look forward to the ways that You will surprise and amaze us with Your faithfulness. The lives that You will touch and the people in this room You will use to brighten dark spaces and lift sad hearts. Our passion for discussion today is fueled by You, our Father, who with the same note of passion created us to be light to the world… color to dullness… life to dead places… and love to lost faces. Bless our work and our time. Guide our steps and our progress. Grant us the power of Your Holy Spirit to work together because it’s impossible to see past our human stubbornness without You.
Bless us Lord, as we leave here today, to take Your passion with us. Fan its flame after we part and inspire our best contributions. Remind us always of Your love, as we see our plans unfold and accomplish the goals we set here today.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us through our belief in Jesus, our Lord and Savior, inspire our hearts to seek You in Your Word daily. Grow us both individually and together, as we seek the peace of Your presence. Help us to walk faithfully and fiercely after Christ, reflecting His love. May we always lift our progress up to You, who holds the honor and glory for who we are and what we do. Use our lives, Lord, to reach those who desperately need to know You love them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Meg Bucher writes about everyday life within the love of Christ on her blog, “Mom” is the most important calling on her life, next to encouraging others to seek Him first… authentically. A dance mom, occasional substitute teacher, and youth worship leader, she can often be found having some kind of an adventure in the small little lake town she resides in with her husband of ten years, two daughters, and their doodle-dog.
Photo credit: ©Thinkstock/vadimguzhva
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.
Prayer for Healing
Prayer for the SickMiracle PrayerPrayer for StrengthPrayer for ProtectionMorning PrayersGood Night PrayersShort PrayersThe Lord’s PrayerSerenity PrayerA Birthday PrayerPrayer for ForgivenessPrayer for Guidance
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