We are always happy when our family and loved ones gather together. It is a blessed time when we get together with 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 bind 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 what 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 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 John 1:9). 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 that 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, include a Bible verse that relates to their needs in your prayer. 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.”
Here is a powerful prayer for the well-being and unity of a family:
A Powerful Prayer for Family
“Almighty and Everlasting God, we gather as a family under Your loving gaze, seeking Your divine guidance and blessing. You, who have instituted the family as a sacred unit, pour out Your grace upon us.
Strengthen the bonds of love and understanding that bind us together. Let our home be a haven of peace, joy, and unconditional love. May Your wisdom guide our decisions, strength upholds us in trials, and providence meets our needs.
In moments of difficulty and misunderstanding, grant us patience, compassion, and the grace to forgive swiftly. Protect each family member from harm and guide our steps in the way of righteousness.
Lord, bless the children of this family. May they grow in stature and favor with You and people. Nurture their hearts and minds in Your love and truth, and keep their footsteps firm in Your ways.
Bless the elders with health and happiness so they may continue to be pillars of faith and wisdom in our midst. May their twilight years be filled with the warmth of Your love and the respect and care of their kin.
For those among us seeking guidance, provide clarity. For those ailing in body or spirit, bring healing. Grant relief and the assurance of Your presence for those struggling with burdens.
In our family life, let us mirror the unity and love of the Holy Trinity. May our prayers, united as one, rise like incense to Your throne, and may Your blessing rest upon this household today and always.
Through the intercessions of the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary, and Joseph – protect and prosper our family in all our endeavors. We submit our hopes, dreams, and challenges into Your capable hands, trusting in Your eternal love and mercy. In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.”
This prayer encompasses various aspects of family life, invoking God’s protection, guidance, and blessings upon each member and the family.
Prayer for Yourself
As a member of a family, you have an essential 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 patiently, and give generously.
Love – Please 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 put the needs of others before my own and be generous with my time and resources (1 Timothy 5:8, Acts 10:2).
Why is Prayer 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 a unique community called family. God has given family to us for support, love, and companionship. At the same time, family is 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 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 show that God cares for us and the family unit. How can you deepen and strengthen your relationships with your loved ones? Prayer for family is an integral part of keeping family relationships strong!
Time is Love
Time spent in prayer is essential 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 don’t know where to start.
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, text your family member and ask, “How can I pray for you?”
- Write your list on an index card. Keep it private 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
