12 Easter Dinner Prayers and Blessings to Celebrate Resurrection Sunday

Easter means different things to different people, even with Christians. Some use the day to be solitary and reflective, others make church service and Easter dinner into a huge production, while many get caught up in the bunny, the baskets, and the colored eggs. I’ve definitely been guilty of the latter. Especially when my kids were little. But I want this year to be different, for myself and for my family. Maybe you do too.

Prayer is a wonderful way to focus your Easter celebrations on Jesus. Saying an Easter dinner prayer is the perfect way to reflect on the meaning of the holiday with your family and friends.

This year, I want to be grateful—truly grateful—beyond a mumbled prayer or a meditative moment. I want to kneel in God’s presence, open my heart to what He wants to show me, and pour out my appreciation and gratitude. I want that for my family too. One way we can do that is with prayer and with scripture. There’s something so powerful about praying God’s Word out loud. I invite you to join me in making what Jesus did thousands of years ago matter today in a brand-new way. 

Here are some of my favorite Easter dinner prayers that you can use around your own Sunday meal table. Whether you're looking for a short and simple prayer before your Easter meal together or a longer traditional prayer, what matters is your heart and desire to communicate with your loving savior.

A Prayer to Celebrate Easter Dinner with Family

Lord, there are no words to fully show our gratitude for what You did on the cross and in the tomb by dying in our place, taking on our sin, and conquering death to rise again. You did what we could not. In John 1:29, You’re called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” The world. That’s me. That’s us. You are the sacrifice we could never be. Because of You, we have hope both now and for eternity. We may never understand the kind of love You have for us or fully grasp that it can’t be taken away. But we stand on the promises in Romans 8. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ...For I am convinced that neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What an awesome God You are. Thank you for everything You’ve done and everything You’re still going to do. This Easter, search our hearts and minds and accept our thankfulness for who You are. Amen.

A Prayer of Praise at Easter

Lord, You are perfect and holy and pure. You keep your promises just like Your Word says in Matthew 28:6. “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” You always do what You say. You never change. We don’t have to worry that You’ll be one way today and another tomorrow. You are the constant in our lives. The only One we can count on with no reservations. When we come to You, You never disappoint or let us down. In 1 John 4:18, You are “The One who takes away fear in perfect love.” You alone have the power to change hearts and minds, to comfort, to walk beside us when we feel alone. Like David in Psalm 150, we praise You, Lord. We praise You in Your sanctuary, in the mighty heavens. We praise You for Your acts of power and Your surpassing greatness. This Easter, let those words be forever written on our hearts. Amen.

A Prayer of Gratitude at Easter

Lord, sometimes we forget that the reason for Your death is our sins. You didn’t need to be punished or redeemed. That was all of us. But because You took on what we couldn’t through Your death and resurrection, we have life, and we have You. We believe what You said in 1 Corinthians 15:2. “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.” Thank You for being our hope and our help. We’re so grateful for the verse in Matthew 28 that tells the women at the tomb “Do not be afraid.” We can hold onto that instead of living in fear. In Proverbs 18 and Psalm 61, we claim the promise that you are our strong tower. That we can run to You and be safe. We don’t deserve Your love, but we want to tell You this Easter that we’re oh-so-grateful You’ve given it. Like David expresses in Psalm 9:1, “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Amen.

Short Easter Prayers for Kids

Easter Morning Prayer for Kids - Dear God, thank You for this beautiful Easter morning! Thank You for Jesus, who is alive and loves us so much. Help us to share Your love and joy with everyone we meet today. Bless our family, our friends, and our fun times together. Amen.

Prayer of Gratitude for Easter - Heavenly Father, on this special day, we remember Your amazing love for us. Thank You for the flowers, the sunshine, and the Easter eggs that remind us of new life. Please keep us safe and happy as we celebrate together. Thank You for my family, for laughter, and for every good gift from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Easter Prayer for Blessings - Lord Jesus, thank You for this wonderful day of Easter! Thank You for dying on the cross and then coming back to life for us. Please bless our food, our family, and our friends. Help us to be kind and to help others. May this day be filled with lots of happiness and love. Amen.

Blessings for the Food

Easter Blessing for Family Meal - Blessed Lord, as we gather around this table on the glorious day of Your resurrection, we ask You to bless this food we are about to share. Thank You for providing us with these nourishments and for bringing us together in love and joy. May this meal remind us of Your endless grace and the promise of new beginnings. Let our hearts be filled with gratitude not only for the bounty before us but for Your presence in our lives. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Gratitude and Joy Easter Food Blessing - Heavenly Father, on this joyful Easter day, we come to You with hearts full of thanksgiving. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, and for the hope and renewal that Easter represents. Bless this food to our bodies, strengthening us to do Your work in the world. May our gathering today be a reflection of the love and sacrifice of Jesus, and may we share this love with all around us. We celebrate and give thanks in Your holy name. Amen.

Simple Easter Meal Prayer - Dear God, thank You for this special day of celebration, for the laughter, the fellowship, and the food. We ask Your blessing on this meal, as a symbol of Your love and the renewal that comes with spring and the message of Easter. Help us to remember and live out the lessons of kindness, sacrifice, and hope in our daily lives. Bless our family and friends, near and far, on this blessed day. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Bless Our Time Together

Gracious and Loving God, as we gather here on this beautiful Resurrection Sunday, we thank You for the precious gift of togetherness. In this moment, united in Your living presence, we ask for Your blessing upon our time together. May our conversations be filled with kindness, our interactions marked by understanding, and our shared moments enriched with laughter and joy. Guide us, Lord, to cherish one another, to support one another in times of need, and to celebrate together in times of joy. Help us to remember that every moment we spend together is a gift from You, to be used for Your glory and to spread Your love in the world. May we depart from our time together strengthened and inspired, carrying Your light into every corner of our lives. In Your holy name, we pray, Amen.

Easter Prayer About Forgiveness

Heavenly Father, on this blessed Easter day, as we celebrate the resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, we are reminded of the ultimate sacrifice made for us, offering forgiveness for our sins and the promise of new life. In the light of Your boundless mercy, we come to You with hearts seeking forgiveness, not only for ourselves but also the strength to forgive others.

Teach us, Lord, to let go of grudges, to heal wounds of the past, and to replace bitterness with love. Just as the stone was rolled away to reveal the miracle of the resurrection, help us roll away the barriers in our hearts, making room for compassion, understanding, and reconciliation.

As we bask in the joy of Easter, let us remember the path of forgiveness You have shown us. Guide us to forgive freely, love generously, and live kindly, following the example of Christ. May this season of renewal deepen our understanding of Your grace and inspire us to extend forgiveness to those around us, just as You have forgiven us.

In the spirit of Easter, let us renew our commitment to living in peace with one another, cherishing the gift of forgiveness that brings us closer to You and to each other. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

A Prayer to Draw Close to God at Easter

Lord, please don’t let us forget how much You’ve done Who You’ve been in our lives. You’ve stayed beside us in our worst moments and rejoiced with us in our best. Don’t let that ever change. We’re human. We make mistakes. So please keep us close to You. In James 4:8, You say, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Help us to cling to that with our whole hearts. When I’m tempted to go my own way, help me not to stray. Lord, like David in Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Don’t let us miss the ways You’re working in our lives. Show us what we can’t see on our own. Amen.

When I think about what the holiday means to me, Good Friday and Easter walk hand in hand. Through both death and resurrection, Jesus took His past and tied it to my present. Without what He did on the cross and in the tomb so long ago:

I Wouldn’t Have a Personal Relationship with God

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him’” (John 14:6,7).

It’s through Jesus that we gain access to the Father. He’s paved the way and become the bridge that connects us. Our mediator. Our champion. I can’t imagine not being able to run to the feet of the Father when I need Him the most.

I Wouldn’t Have Salvation

“The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:23-25).

Salvation isn’t earned, it’s offered. And even if there were a way to somehow buy our own pardons, we’d never be able to afford the price. God knew that, and that’s why Jesus took on our debt instead. Out of all the Christian holidays we celebrate, Easter is what brings us true freedom in Christ.

I Wouldn’t Have Victory Over Death

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Because Jesus defeated death, we have the promise of eternity and of seeing people we’ve lost once again. There’s a certain peace about realizing that our future still lies ahead, and that life is more than just our current struggles. God has a big-picture plan. That gives me hope not only in heaven but also on earth as He walks beside me even now.

No matter how you celebrate, I pray this Easter will be a blessing to your heart. Jesus’ gift of life is the original gift that keeps on giving—all the way into eternity. Take some time this season to deepen your relationship with the One who gave His life for you. I know He wants to draw you close.

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Lori Freeland, an encourager at heart, believes everyone has a story to tell and wants to help make those stories as strong as possible. An author, editor, and writing coach, she holds a BA in psychology from The University of Wisconsin and currently lives in the Dallas area. She’s presented multiple workshops at conferences across the country, has experience in developmental and copy edits in various genres, and writes nonfiction, novels, and everything in between. When she’s not curled up with her husband drinking too much coffee and worrying about her kids, she loves to mess with the lives of the imaginary people living in her head. You can find her inspirational blog and writing tips at lafreeland.com.