Some churches say a benediction prayer at the end of every worship service. Try not to take them for granted. Don’t let a benediction prayer simply be your cue that the church service is over. Take its message to heart and use it as a reminder to live out your faith all week long.
A benediction prayer is often spoken at the end of a worship service and serves as a blessing from God to His followers. It is meant to spur people on as they begin a new week. A benediction prayer inspires hope that living out a faith-filled life is possible. The prayer may ask God for a blessing, His help or guidance, or His peace. The word benediction means “a good word.” It is good to offer others a good word that is based on the Bible.
The traditional way is for a benediction prayer to be said at the end of a worship service and while this is good, you can also pray a benediction prayer after your morning quiet time to set you up for your upcoming day. Take a truth from the Bible that you just read and speak it as an encouragement for your day. Then ask yourself how you can live that truth today. Write it on an index card or a note on your smartphone and think about that idea all day long. Let it spur you on toward loving your God and your neighbors and shining your light with good deeds for all to see.
Benediction Prayer to Remember the One True God
Holy God of Israel, You are one God and the only God who can offer us peace, hope, and a future. Give me the strength to love You for my entire life. Remind me of the rewards and promises that come when I follow You.
Listen up! The Lord is our God. There is no one like Him. He deserves our allegiance to love Him with all our hearts, souls, and our strength. Speak of Him and His promises as you go about your days. Don’t forget to bring Him gratitude for His many blessings to you. Don’t be deceived by the lies of the enemy and the world. Cling to God as your blessed redeemer. Commit yourselves wholeheartedly to God’s Truth.
(Inspired by the traditional Hebrew Shema prayer)
Benediction Prayer to Spread the Good News
Dear Lord God, remind me of the truths that You spoke to Your disciples as You walked this earth. Remind me of Your grace and mercy even in the midst of my doubts and questioning. You have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Let Your Spirit guide me into making disciples of all the nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let Your disciples carry on the faith that You offered thousands of years ago. And always remind us that You are with us each day until the end of this age.
(Inspired by Jesus’s Great Commission in Matthew 28)
Benediction Prayer for the Good Shepherd to Lead Me
Dear Lord, thank You for being my Shepherd when I am feeling lost and afraid. You protect me when danger comes near. You lead me to my favorite place in the whole world—Your Temple. You always hear me and answer me, Lord. I know You will never abandon me. You will always teach me how to think and act like You. And You will always lead me to Your path of righteousness. I will always be confident of this: that I will see Your goodness. I will be brave and courageous as I wait for the answers You will surely bring.
(Inspired by Psalm 27)
Benediction Prayer for a God Who Knows Me
O Lord, You know everything about me. You know my plans and thoughts even before I think of them. You are always many steps ahead of me, so You know what I need before I need it. Your hand of blessing comforts and guides me. I have many questions but knowing You is more important than the answer to any of them. You designed me perfectly when I was still in the womb. My life was written by You before I was even born. Lord, Your thoughts about me cannot be numbered. Search me for all my anxious thoughts and always point out my sin and mistakes so I can learn and keep walking on Your path to everlasting life.
(Inspired by Psalm 139)
Benediction Prayer for Gratitude for All of Creation
Dear Creator God, You created all the beautiful nature that I see on the earth. The mountains and the oceans. You created the sky above me. And the moon and the stars. And so many animals that it’s easy to lose track of how many there are. You designed a beautiful planet for humans to live on. You could have created a functional but bland world, but you didn’t. You made a wondrous and intricate place. May I always remember to thank You for Your many gifts.
(Inspired by Genesis 1)
Benediction Prayer for a Dream Fulfilled
Dear Father God, You met Hannah in her distress. She offered her dreams and plans to You. She left them in Your hands, and You didn’t disappoint. You gave her a prophet for a son and more children as well. Her hopes and dreams were fulfilled beyond her expectations and imagination. May I always remember to lay my hopes and dreams at Your feet and wait for Your answers that will come in due time.
(Inspired by 1 Samuel 1)
Benediction Prayer to Live in Love
Dear Loving Lord, Your Word tells me that nothing I do is worth anything unless I do it out of love for another person. Let me learn to off the rough corners of my personality so that only love remains. Let me shave off impatience, unkindness, jealousy, proud or rude behavior, the need to be right, irritability, and unforgiveness. Love keeps going and is always hopeful. Love looks for the good in others and seeks to bring out their potential. May I always grow in my ability to love others well. For this is how real life is lived.
(Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13)
Benediction Prayer to Emulate the Humility of Christ
Dear Lord, remind me that my life is not about me. It’s about You and Your greatness. Help me to look out for the interests of others over my own interests. Help me to step back and let Your loving ways lead the way. My ways often fall into selfishness, while Your ways look for the best for all. You humbled Yourself as a servant and even died so that many could find life in Your name. Help me to remember that the best way to lead other people is to serve and care for them. Being in front of people isn’t always the best place to lead from. A leader is most often in the back of a crowd so he can see who may need his help. Help me remember to step back and serve instead of waiting to be recognized.
(Inspired by Philippians 2)
Let me leave you with this common benediction prayer from the Bible:
May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace. Numbers 6:24-26
Now go forth and encourage others through the blessings of these benedictions!
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/PeopleImages
This article is part of our Prayer 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.
The Lord’s Prayer
Prayer for Peace
Morning Prayers
Good Night Prayers
Prayer for Healing
Prayer for Protection
Prayer for Anxiety
Prayer for Strength
Now available is our new Daily Prayer devotional and podcast! An easy way to start your day with prayer: read or listen to today’s prayer and sign up to receive it by email.