Prayers to Pray for Your Family

Prayers for Loved Ones

Aug 10

Written By Susan Zurcher

If you are like me, you would like to protect your family from the pain of living in a fallen world by wrapping them in bubble wrap, hiding in the woods, or hunkering down in some high tower in the desert.

But there is a better option, praying for them.

The God of the universe knows our hearts and all our concerns for our families. He knows all, sees all.

He is not surprised by any of it.

And He is truly the only one in control and can help us.

So as our precious loved ones go out into the world every day, here are just a few of the prayers I pray for them (and myself):

Micah 6:8 (ESV)

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

This is such a beautiful verse. It clearly shows the heart of our Lord. Some versions add mercy along with loving kindness which is what I pray. If we are all doing these three things what a difference we will make in our world!

Psalm 141:3 (ESV)

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Our words are so important! Sometimes I speak before I think – ugh! We are told repeatedly in Proverbs we will reap the fruit of our lips in multiple ways (See What Did You Say? here).

Our words not only affect ourselves, but others, and our relationship with the Lord. They go out of our mouths, into the spirit world, and into our ears down into our souls.

We want our words to edify and build up, not tear down and destroy.

Colossians 1:9-11 (ESV)

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.

There is so much to unpack here! This is a great prayer for all those on your heart. The most important point, I believe, is to pray we increase in our knowledge of Him. Everything else will follow. The more filled we are with the Lord the wiser we become, the more satisfied our souls, and the more we display His glory with our lives.

Psalm 101:3 (NASB)

I will set no worthless thing before my eyes.

I started praying this one long before smart phones – especially for the men in my family. Visuals tend to get stuck in our men’s/boy’s minds. Now more than ever we need to pray about what they see since there is now no limit as to what comes before our eyes at any given moment.

I remember even having to redirect my young boys vision at the store when we were around underdressed women.

James 1:5 (ESV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Proverbs tells us over and over to get wisdom.

This is one of my favorite verses (anyone else struggle with indecisiveness?). It is so clear and direct in James’ usual style.

As our children grow, they are in our presence less and less and are making more decisions on their own.

Some decisions are major, some minor. We want to make good decisions in relationships, our Christian walk, parenting, finances, work, health, etc.

In any case, we all would love to make great decisions – and see our children flourish as they do so as well.

Psalm 18: 2-3 (ESV)

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Life is hard. Jesus told us directly we would have trials in this world. But how much better to go through life with Jesus than without Him.

I don’t think I would have made it this far without Him. I definitely know my husband would not have.

Our kids will face difficulties of their own. When we press in hard and rely on the Lord, we are strengthened by casting our cares on Him and letting Him carry the burden – until we take it back again and have to give it over – again (see Beth Moore’s excellent video on the topic here).

There are always more prayers we could pray, but this is a great start.

No one loves us – or our loved ones – more than the Lord God Almighty. He is able to do superabundantly more than all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20 AMP).

And praise God we can lift up our prayers and concerns anytime, anywhere having direct access to Him through the shed blood of Jesus our Lord.

What a blessing and privilege!

What prayers do you pray for your family?