Powerful Prayers for Protection from Evil and Physical Harm

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Prayers for protection are powerful tools of faith and spiritual defense that provide comfort, guidance, and a deep sense of God's protecting presence in our lives. You can trust that God will care for you and keep you safely in His protection. Scripture tells us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find," and this includes the protection of God (Matthew 7:7). 

Therefore, ask God for protection in prayer so that it will be given to you! We have collected some of the best prayers for protection for you to use in your request to God. May these prayers bring you comfort and peace of mind.

Simple Prayers for Protection

A Prayer for Protection: Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus, acknowledging your power and sovereignty. I pray for your divine protection over me and my loved ones. Surround us with your angels and create a hedge of safety around us. Guard us from harm, both seen and unseen, and keep us secure in your loving care. I trust in your promise that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Protection in Daily Activities: Lord Jesus Christ, as I go about my daily activities, I ask for your guidance and protection. Be with me in my comings and goings, shield me from accidents and dangers. May your presence go before me and behind me, making every step secure. I place my trust in you, knowing that you are my refuge and fortress. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Protection in Travel: Heavenly Father, I embark on this journey and ask for your protection on the road [or in the air, or on the sea]. Watch over the vehicle [or means of transportation], and keep all passengers safe. Guide the hands of those who operate the transportation, and grant us a safe arrival at our destination. I trust in your traveling mercies and commit this journey into your hands. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Protection in Times of Fear: Gracious God, in moments of fear and uncertainty, I turn to you for refuge. Replace my anxiety with your peace and my fear with trust in your providence. Help me to remember that you are with me always, and no challenge is too great for your strength. I declare that I am under your protection, and I find my security in your unfailing love. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Prayer for Protection in Spiritual Warfare: Heavenly Father, I put on the full armor of God to stand against the schemes of the enemy. I cover myself with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is your Word. I trust in your strength and protection as I navigate the spiritual battles around me. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray. Amen.

Protection Prayers in the Bible

1. The Armor of God Prayer: Begin by invoking the spiritual armor mentioned in Ephesians 6. Visualize each piece—the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit—as you pray for God's protection and strength.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Psalm 23 - The LORD is My Shepherd: This Psalm emphasizes God's constant presence and guidance, assuring believers that they need not fear any harm.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13): Jesus' model prayer includes the petition, "Deliver us from the evil one." This simple yet profound request seeks God's protection from the snares of the adversary, recognizing His ultimate authority over all.

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"

Psalm 121 - A Song of Ascents: This Psalm is a beautiful expression of trust in God's unwavering protection, acknowledging His sovereignty over all aspects of life.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

15 Prayers for Protection

Here is a collection of some of our favorite protection prayers to seek the shelter and refuge of God in times of need. Put your trust in God's protection, and you will be delivered from evil and harm!

Armor of God Prayer

Dear God, today we put on the full armor to guard our lives against attack. We put on the belt of truth to protect against lies and deception. We put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts from the temptations we battle. We put the gospel of peace on our feet, so we’re ready to take your light wherever you send us this day. We choose to walk in the peace and freedom of Your Spirit and not be overcome with fear and anxious thoughts. We take up your shield of faith that will extinguish all the darts and threats hurled our way by the enemy. 

We believe in your power to protect us and choose to trust in you. We put on the helmet of salvation, which covers our minds and thoughts, reminding us we are children of the day, forgiven, set free, saved by the grace of Christ Jesus. We take up the sword of the Spirit, your very Word, the one offensive weapon given to us for battle, which can demolish strongholds, alive, active, and sharper than any double-edged sword.

We ask for your help in remembering to put on your full armor every day, for you give us all that we need to stand firm in this world. Forgive us, God for the times we’ve been unprepared, too busy to care, or trying to fight and wrestle in our own strength.

Thank you that we never fight alone, for you are constantly at work on our behalf, shielding, protecting, strengthening, exposing deeds of darkness, bringing to light what needs to be known, and covering us from the cruel attacks we face even when we’re unaware. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen. - Debbie McDaniel

Protection of the Most High

Father, I want to live in the shadow of Your wing. When life is hard, and I don’t know what to do, help me remember that You are with me and that I am never alone. I cannot live without You. I cannot face tomorrow without the promise of Your presence. Today, I choose to walk and live under the protection of You, The Most High.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Mary Southerland

St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer

The hymn version of St. Patrick's Breastplate consists of several stanzas, though the last two stanzas are particularly memorable and powerful:

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in the hearts of all that love me, Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger. I bind unto myself the Name, The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocating the same. The Three in One, and One in Three, Of Whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, Salvation is of Christ the Lord. Read more: Who Was St. Patrick?

Grant Us Protection

Grant, O Lord, Thy protection And in protection, strength And in strength, understanding And in understanding, knowledge And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it And in the love of it, the love of all existences And in that love, the love of spirit and all creation. Amen.

Prayer for Christ's Protection

The cross of Christ be with me; The cross of Christ overcomes all water and every fire; The cross of Christ overcomes all weapons; The cross of Christ is a perfect sign and blessing to my soul. May Christ be with me and my body during all my life day and at night. Now I pray, I [name], pray God the Father For the soul’s sake, and I pray God the Son for the Father’s sake, And I pray God the Holy Ghost for the Father’s and Son’s sake, And I pray God the Holy Ghost for the Father’s and the Son’s sake, That the holy corpse of God may bless me against all evil things, words, and works. Amen.

Prayer for the Protection of Family

Lord, I pray for Your emotional, physical, and spiritual protection over my kids (grandkids). Keep evil far from them, and help them to trust You as their refuge and strength. I pray You will guard their minds from harmful instruction and grant them discernment to recognize truth. I pray You will make them strong and courageous in the presence of danger, recognizing that You have overcome and will set right all injustice and wrong one day. Help them to find rest in Your shadow as they live in the spiritual shelter You provide for them. Let them know that the only safe place is in Jesus and that their home on earth is only temporary.  - by Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Prayer for Protection Against Spiritual Attacks

We know the enemy wouldn’t fight so hard against us if we weren’t seeking your kingdom. He wouldn’t be trying so hard to stop us if he didn’t think you had so much good still in store. Remind us, today, Lord, that the battle belongs to you, and whatever we’re up against can be taken down in one fell swoop by your mighty hand. Please help us to trust you more, to stop wasting time just spinning our wheels or fighting in our strength. 

Forgive us for the times we’ve neglected to set our eyes and hearts on you, for the days we’ve forgotten to come to you first. Fill us with the power of your Holy Spirit. Fill us with your wisdom and discernment to make us aware of the enemy’s traps so we can stand strong against his schemes. Thank you for your constant reminders that your presence will go with us, in whatever we face, and you will give us rest. Amen - Debbie McDaniel

Learn more: What is Spiritual Warfare in Christianity?

Prayer for the Light of God to Bring Protection

The light of God surrounds us, The love of God enfolds us, The power of God protects us, and The presence of God watches over us. Wherever we are, God is, And where God is, all is well. St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John, Like unto the prophet Jonas, as a type of Christ, Who was guarded for three days and three nights in the belly of a whale, Thus shall the Almighty God, As a Father, guard and protect me from all evil. Amen.

Psalm 91 Prayer for Protection

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, and no disaster will come near your tent. 

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

The St. Michael the Archangel Prayer:

"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."

Read more: Who is the Archangel Michael? "Chief Prince" of Heaven

Prayer for Protection from Wrongdoing

You thieves, I implore you to be obedient like Jesus Christ, Who obeyed his heavenly Father unto the cross, And to stand without moving out of my sight, In the name of the Trinity. I command you by the power of God And the incarnation of Jesus Christ Not to move out of my sight like Jesus Christ Stood on Jordan’s stormy banks to be baptized by John. And furthermore, I implore you, horse and rider, To stand still and not to move out of my sight like Jesus Christ did stand when he was about To be nailed to the cross to release the Fathers of the church from the bonds of hell. Thieves, I bind you with the same bonds with which Jesus Our Lord has bound hell; and thus ye shall be bound; the same Words that bind you shall also release you.

Prayer for Children's Protection

Lord, I pray that my kids (grandkids) will develop an eternal perspective and purpose, not an earthly one.  Help them to see life–and every challenge–through Your eyes, eager and unafraid to share with others the good news of Jesus wherever they go. I pray that they will set their minds on things above, not just what’s going on here, and that they will be rooted and grounded in Your love. I pray they will come to understand the extent of Your own love for them – that it surpasses all the head knowledge they will acquire in school. I pray they will be filled up with You from morning ’til night. - Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Prayer for Strength and Protection

Lord God, heavenly Father, you know that we are set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant us such strength and protection, to support us in all danger, and carry us through all temptations; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Martin Luther, the German Litany, Third Collect, [Die Gebete Luthers, #5]

For Protection in Safe Travel

God’s Angels guard and keep you All the way that you must travel Till earth’s days are past. When blossoms fade and Time is fleeting fast, In times of purest joy Or pain and fear, God’s Angels guard And keep you safe. Amen.

Prayer for Protection from Temptation

O Christ, Son of God, for our sake you fasted forty days and allowed yourself to be tempted. Protect us so that we may not be led astray by any temptation. Since man does not live by bread alone, nourish our souls with the heavenly food of your Word; through your mercy, O our God, you are blessed and live and govern all things, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, 1881

Read more: What is the Full Armor of God? Bible Guide for Each Piece

Bible Verses about Protection

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. - 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. - Psalm 91:1-4

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:

Sources

5 Powerful Prayers for Protection and Safety - Crosswalk.com
14 Powerful Prayers For Protection And Safety - Praywithme.com
Prayers - acollectionofprayers.com

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Cecilie Arcurs

This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.

Prayers for Healing
Morning Prayers
Prayers for Family
Prayers for Surgery

Prayers for Strength
Night Prayers Before Bed
Prayers for Protection
The Lord's Prayer: Our Father

This article originally appeared on Christianity.com. For more faith-building resources, visit Christianity.com.