Praying for others
How to pray for your family, one person at a time, with Scripture
· 2 min read
How to pray for your family by name, what to ask God for each person, Scripture to pray, and how to keep praying for them every week.
To pray for your family, pray for each person by name, ask God for one specific need, and pray Scripture over them. Praying for your family by name, instead of “bless my family,” helps you notice what’s happening in their lives and how God answers.
How do you pray for your family?
Praying for your family is a practice of bringing each person to God by name, week after week. Pray for one specific need for each of them, pray Scripture over them, and pray for family members who don’t know Jesus. Spread the names across the week so it stays doable. Over time you’ll notice what God is doing in their lives and can thank Him for it.
Pray for each person by name
Make a short list of your family, one person per line, with one need next to each name. Ask them what they’d like prayer for. That question alone can open good conversations.
What to pray for your family
- Faith. That each person would know God and grow in Him (Colossians 1:9-10).
- Protection. That God would keep them safe (Psalm 121:7-8).
- Health and work. Strength, healing, and wisdom in what they do.
- Your relationships. Patience, kindness, and quick forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32).
- This week’s needs. A test, an appointment, a decision.
For prayers for each child, your son or daughter, and grandchildren, see how to pray for your children.
Scripture to pray over your family
- “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you” (Numbers 6:24-25).
- “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore” (Psalm 121:8).
- “That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit” (Ephesians 3:16).
Pray for family members who don’t know Jesus
Pray that God would shine “in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Pray for patience, for opportunities, and for you to love them well. See how to pray for someone’s salvation.
Keep praying every week
Pray for the people you live with daily, and for extended family once or twice a week. A prayer list for family makes it easy to start.
If you are married, see how couples can pray together and for each other.
Pray for your family in The Pray App
Make a prayer card for each family member, tag them from your contacts, and choose how often each one comes up. Home shows today’s cards, and you pray through them one at a time.
Today shows the family members you’re praying for, with their categories.
The Pray App is free on the App Store. See how to choose how often a prayer comes up.
Questions people ask
How do I pray for my family every day?
Pray for the people you live with each day, and for extended family once or twice a week. Use their names and pray for one specific need each.
What is a good prayer for family protection?
Pray Numbers 6:24-26 over them, asking God to bless and keep them, and Psalm 121, which says the Lord keeps your going out and coming in.
How do I pray for family members who aren't Christians?
Pray that God would open their eyes to the gospel, that you'd love them well, and that they'd meet believers who point them to Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Related guides
- How to lead a prayer group or prayer meetingHow to lead a prayer group or prayer meeting, a simple plan for the time, how to help quiet people pray, and short opening and closing prayers you can use.
- How to pray for your pastor, with ScriptureHow to pray for your pastor, what to pray before he preaches, how to pray for his family, Bible verses to pray, and a simple weekly plan you can keep.
- How to start a prayer group at church, home or onlineHow to start a prayer group at church, at home, at work or online, who to invite, what to do the first time, and how to keep praying between meetings.
- What is a prayer chain, and how to start oneWhat a prayer chain is, how a church prayer chain passes requests along, how to write a prayer chain request, and how to start one for your church or group.