Prayer points with Scriptures · 19 points
Prayer Points for Family
These prayer points are for anyone praying for their family: parents, grandparents, single adults praying for relatives, and churches holding a family prayer meeting. They cover thanksgiving, a home centered on Christ, family restoration and peace, protection and provision, and faith passed from one generation to the next. Each point has a Bible verse and a short prayer you can pray as written or put into your own words.
But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
Joshua 24:15 (BSB)
Pray one section a day, or the whole list on a weekend. Read the verse aloud first, then pray the prayer, naming each family member as you go. Families can take turns: one person reads the verse, another prays. Where a point touches a hard situation, stay on it as long as you need. Verses are from the Berean Standard Bible.
Thanksgiving for our family
1Thanks for the family God gave us
God, You settle the lonely in families. Thank You for the people You have placed around our table, by birth, marriage, adoption or friendship. Help us never to treat them as ordinary.
God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
Psalm 68:6 (BSB)2God’s faithfulness across generations
Lord, Your loving devotion reaches from everlasting to everlasting, and Your righteousness to children’s children. Thank You for those who prayed for us before we knew You, and carry that faithfulness on to the generations after us.
But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children— to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.
Psalm 103:17-18 (BSB)3A home built on wisdom
Father, by wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established. Fill our home first with understanding, kindness and the knowledge of You, the treasures that last longer than anything we can buy.
By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
Proverbs 24:3-4 (BSB)
A home centered on Christ
4God’s word talked about at home
Lord, let Your words be on our hearts first, then on our lips at home: at breakfast, in the car, at bedtime. Make talking about You and praying together a natural part of our ordinary days.
These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (BSB)5Love that holds us together
Father, clothe us with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience toward one another. Teach us to bear with each other, and over all these virtues put on us love, the bond of perfect unity.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14 (BSB)6Words that build up
Lord Jesus, guard our mouths at home. Take away sarcasm, harshness and careless words, and let us speak only what builds each other up and brings grace to those who listen.
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 (BSB)7Seeking God first
Heavenly Father, You know everything our family needs. Free us from worry about food, clothes and bills, and help us seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness in how we spend our time, money and attention.
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
Matthew 6:31-33 (BSB)
Restoration and peace in the home
8Love that forgives
Merciful God, teach us to love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Help us forgive quickly, apologize honestly, and stop keeping score of old hurts.
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 (BSB)9Anger settled before sundown
Lord, when we are angry with each other, keep us from sin. Do not let the sun set on our anger, and give the devil no foothold in our home. Teach us to talk it through and make peace.
“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:26-27 (BSB)10Gentle answers in tense moments
God, a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. In tense moments give us gentle answers. Calm the arguments in our home, and teach us to lower our voices and listen.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 (BSB)11Reconciliation for estranged family
God of compassion, like the father who ran to meet his returning son, give us compassion for family members who are far from us. Heal broken relationships between parents and children, brothers and sisters, and make us quick to welcome them home.
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
Luke 15:20 (BSB)
Protection and provision
12Protection in our coming and going
Lord, guard each of us from evil and watch over our coming and going: on the road, at school, at work and at home. Keep us safe in body, and keep our souls close to You.
The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121:7-8 (BSB)13Contentment and daily needs
Father, keep our family free from the love of money and content with what we have. Provide what we need, guard us from debt and envy, and remind us that You will never leave us or forsake us.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 (BSB)14Our work and our income
Lord our God, let Your favor rest on us and establish the work of our hands. Bless the jobs, studies and housework that keep our family going, and give work to those among us who are looking for it.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands—yes, establish the work of our hands!
Psalm 90:17 (BSB)15Rest and peace at home
Lord, You alone make us dwell in safety. Give our household peaceful nights and restful sleep. Quiet the worries that keep us awake, and let our home be a place where everyone can rest.
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8 (BSB)
Faith for every generation
16Every family member knowing Jesus
Lord Jesus, Paul and Silas spoke Your word to the jailer and everyone in his house, and the whole household came to believe. We pray for each person in our family by name. Draw every one of us to believe in You and be saved.
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized. Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.
Acts 16:31-34 (BSB)17A sincere faith passed down
God, the sincere faith of Lois and Eunice lived on in Timothy. Let our faith be sincere, not for show, so that our children and grandchildren see that it is real and make it their own.
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
2 Timothy 1:5 (BSB)18Aging parents and grandparents
Lord, You told Your people You would carry them even to old age and gray hair. Carry our aging parents and grandparents. Give them health, dignity and peace, and give us patience and joy in caring for them.
Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.
Isaiah 46:4 (BSB)19Extended family, in-laws and stepfamilies
Father, make us devoted to one another in brotherly love: in-laws and cousins, stepparents and stepchildren included. Teach us to outdo one another in showing honor, especially to those who are different from us.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
Romans 12:10 (BSB)
A closing prayer
Lord, as for us and our house, we will serve You. Thank You for the family You have given us. Make our home a place of love, forgiveness and peace. Protect us in our coming and going, provide what we need, and heal what is broken between us. Draw every one of us to Jesus, and let our faith be passed on to our children’s children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Pray with a voice
Short prayers with a voice to pray along with, each drawn from one passage.
Questions
What is a good Bible verse to pray for my family?
Joshua 24:15 is one of the best known: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” Others often prayed over families include Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (talking about God’s words at home), Colossians 3:12-14 (compassion, forgiveness and love), Psalm 121:7-8 (protection) and Psalm 103:17 (God’s love to children’s children). Each one is in the list above.
How can we pray together as a family at home?
Keep it short and regular. Many families pray one section of this list at dinner or bedtime, reading the verse aloud and letting each person pray one sentence. Younger children can repeat a line after a parent. The aim is not a long prayer meeting but a home where talking to God is normal, as Deuteronomy 6:6-7 describes.
Can I pray for family members who are not believers?
Yes. Paul prayed for the salvation of his own people (Romans 10:1), and Acts records whole households coming to faith, such as the Philippian jailer’s (Acts 16:31-34). Salvation is God’s gift, received by each person through faith in Christ, so we pray for them by name, live out our faith with love, and trust God with the timing.
More prayer points
Every verse on this page is quoted word for word from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which its publishers dedicated to the public domain. Copy, print and share these prayer points freely with your church.