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10 Prayers for Relationships (to Strengthen and Restore)

10 Prayers for Relationships (to Strengthen and Restore)

Relationships are some of the very best and most beautiful parts of this life. They reflect the heart of our God in so many ways -- reminding us of how loved we are, encouraging us in moments of weakness, uplifting our weary spirits, challenging us to go deeper, and inviting us into the fullness of life. While relationships won't always be easy, they are always worth it. We weren't created to live this life alone!

May these 10 prayers for relationships help you lift up your loved ones to the Lord today!

  • A Prayer for Friendships

    A Prayer for Friendships

    Lord Jesus,

    Thank you for giving me such a vibrant community of friends to do life with. I praise you for the people you have blessed me with, the ones who have come alongside me to love, encourage, support, and uplift me through all the twists and turns of life. I'm so grateful that I do not have to go through life alone, but that you have shown me examples of your love through my dear friends.

    I pray that you would be present in my friendships, that you would be drawing us together in deeper community with one another toward greater unity with you. I pray that you would help heal any places of brokenness or discord in my friendships, and that you would restore any friendships that have fallen apart. 

    Like your Word says in Colossians 3:12-13, may I clothe myself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. May I be patient with my friends, and may I forgive freely like you have forgiven me. May I shine your light in my friendships, giving glory to you through all that I do, say, and think.

    Thank you for my friends, Jesus. Thank you for the ways they build me up and remind me of your goodness and faithfulness.

    In your name I pray,

    Amen.

    Photo credit: ©Unsplash-helena-lopes

  • Prayer to Be A Peace Maker

    Prayer to Be A Peace Maker

    Dear Heavenly Father, help me to be a peacemaker.  Help me have a peaceful relationship with those whom I am struggling with.  Also, help me to build bridges between others who are not at peace with each other.  Equip me for this task because I cannot do it without You.  May You receive all the glory for this.  Thank You Jesus! Amen. 

    Photo credit: ©GettyImages/monkeybusinessimages

  • A Prayer for Family

    A Prayer for Family

    Father God,

    Thank you for my family. It can be messy, it can be wonderful, it can be challenging, and it can be life-giving to be part of my family, and today, I surrender these precious relationships to you. I pray that you would be at work in my family, moving among us and creating deeper bonds between us in a way that gives you glory, honor, and praise. I thank you for the family members who have come to know and love you, and praise you for the ways they encourage and uplift me in my own faith. I also pray for the family members who do not yet know you, Lord, and I ask that you would be moving and working in their lives, opening their eyes and their hearts to who you are and how you love them.

    In the places of brokenness in my family, I pray you would bring healing and restoration. In the places of anger, I pray you would bring your peace. In the places of hurt, I pray you would bring comfort. Thank you for the moments of joy, the sweet celebrations, the deep love, and the connections between us. Thank you for the memories we share, and for all the ways you have shown your deep love and endless faithfulness to us.

    We pray you would continue to protect, guide, strengthen, and encourage our family, Jesus. We give you the glory today and ask that your plans would be done in each of us.

    Amen.

    Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Rawpixel

  • A Prayer for Communication

    A Prayer for Communication

    Grant us Your wisdom when addressing difficult subjects. Let us see and hear the other’s heart with the spiritual wisdom that You freely give. Teach us to speak truth to each other in love. As we navigate these days together, let our words and actions toward the other be compassionate, humble, patient, gentle, and kind.

    Photo cred: ©GettyImages/tab1962

  • A Prayer of Encouragement for All Relationships

    A Prayer of Encouragement for All Relationships

    Jesus,

    I come to you today in gratitude for the people in my life. Friends, coworkers, relatives, neighbors, mentors... they all enrich my life in ways I am incredibly thankful for. I pray that in my communities and circles of friends, we would be people who bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) and love at all times (Proverbs 17:17). I pray that we would encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11) while serving one another (1 Peter 4:10).

    May I daily come to you in prayer, Lord, giving you thanks for all the relationships in my life and asking that you be present and at work in each of them. Strengthen the bonds I have with my loved ones. Open my eyes to new friendships I can be making, and new people I can connect with. Help me to forgive freely, let go of grudges, love humbly, and serve others with a willing spirit. 

    You alone are worthy of all praise -- may all of my relationships give glory back to you, Lord!

    Amen.

    Photo credit: ©Unsplash-sam-manns

  • Prayer for Struggling Relationship

    Prayer for Struggling Relationship

    Father,

    Praise You for Jesus’ example on this earth. We know that You are purposeful in the plan that You have or our lives, and for the people that you place in it. We are not always going to get along with everyone. Not always going to execute our behavior in Christ-like fashion. Help alleviate the shame of our imperfection, and help us to extend that grace to others.

    Christ came to forgive us for every misbehavior He knew that we would choose to suffer by. Imperfect people dealing with imperfect people can get a little messy down on earth. We ask for You to cover us in Your grace, and convict our hearts to change and love more like Jesus every day that we wake to breathe again. Forgive us for letting the sharp edges of our sensitivities take over conversations, and the anxieties of our minds cloud our judgment. Help us to see others through Your eyes, as souls that You love just as much as You love ours.

    Bless our hearts to soften towards others, yet protect us from deceptive motives. When there is a relationship that you wish us to walk away from, be it friendly or romantic, help us to hear a clear word from You. Bless our friendships to be godly and God-centered. Bless our marriages to be lifelong and blessed. When we struggle maritally, provide godly counsel and reconciliation, so that if at all possible we may honor our lifelong commitment to You and each other. Show us, by illuminating Your Word and blessing us with Your presence, how to be more like Jesus, how to love as He spoke, and You command.

    In Jesus’ Name,

    Amen. ~ Meg Bucher

    Photo cred: ©GettyImages/Design-Pics

  • A Prayer of Intercession

    A Prayer of Intercession

    God, I acknowledge You as _______’s provider. Thank You for providing all ______ needs to live in peace and harmony with me and others.

    Your Word is alive and a gift of healing to ______. I invite You to fill _____’s life with It. Let It be a salve to _____’s wounds. Use it to set ______ free from the snare of the enemy.

    You are the Good Shepherd. Please rescue _______ from paths of destruction.

    You are the Wonderful Counselor. Break down the walls in _____’s heart and mind with Your battering ram of revelation. Give ____ spiritual wisdom and insight to know You. Flood ______’s heart with Your light.

    Where _____ has endured shame, pour double portions of honor into _____’s life.

    Your Holy Spirit intercedes for _____ 24/7. Use me to do the same and raise up an army of intercessors on _______’s behalf. Let heaven and earth work in tandem to deliver ____ from evil.

    Make _____ ready to hear me and others speak Your truth in love. Help ____ to experience Your love and Your presence.

    You are the One who can enable _____ to hunger for Your Word and obey Your commands. Let that be so for ________.

    With faith in Jesus, I pray. Amen ~ Jennifer O. White

    Photo cred: @GettyImages-fizkes

  • A Prayer for Unity

    A Prayer for Unity

    Lord, I declare that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is fighting for me and ______ so that we live together operating as one.

    Let the challenges of life push us forward into total dependence on You to remain together.

    I trust that taking up our cross and laying down our lives for each other will lead to an amazing life of love together. We are one. Teach us to think as one, not selfishly or independently. With Your moment-by-moment leadership, we will finish the race together.

    Photo cred: ©GettyImages/Dirima.jpg

  • A Prayer to Move Past Resentment and Bitterness

    A Prayer to Move Past Resentment and Bitterness

    Father,

    The ways of the world and our sinful nature do not surprise You. In a way that only You can, move our hearts towards compassion and peace when our anger flares. Clear our hearts of bitterness and resentment. We don’t want to be unforgiving people, God. Christ died on the cross to forgive our unmentionable sins. You, alone, know the long version of our story. Convict us to tell it often. Make us a channel of Your Love. Prune us of the habits and relationships that lead us astray. Reveal encouragement and hope to us in Your Word. 

    In Christ, we are a new creation. Thank You for changing us, as painful as growth can be, and drawing us closer to You with every note of bitterness and resentment we shed. Protect us from harboring these unhealthy emotions, and guard our hearts as we stumble in Jesus’ footsteps. We love You, LORD. We trust You with our lives and pray Your purpose for them over our plans. May all who witness our lives know Your unspeakable love by the way we live. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

    Photo cred: GettyImages-Vasyl Dolmatov