There is little I can do for my family members that will propel them further or influence them longer than the prayers I pray for them. They will ignore things I say, lose things I give them, and forget things I do, but the prayers I offer to God on their behalf will never be ignored, lost, or forgotten.

It’s an absolute privilege to have a loving Father who guides me in interceding for my family members and hears me when I pray. It’s no small thing that He would involve me in bringing His heart, His will, and His power into the lives of my loved ones. And, though I can take no credit for what He does, I’m grateful for the opportunity to partner with Him as He does it.

Maybe you’ve felt a nudge to begin praying for your family members, but you don’t quite know where to start. I’m here to help you cover them in prayer in five key areas. You may recognize them from my Warrior Parents Small Group Prayer Guide, but these are not just prayers to pray over your children. Each of our family members can benefit from God’s involvement in these areas (and so can we).

Pray for Your Family Members’ Position

Pray that your loved ones will be positioned to receive all that God has for them.

• Pray for they will be repositioned from darkness into light, sickness into health, bondage into freedom, and weakness into strength.
• Pray they will always be in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing for the right reason.
• For those who don’t know Jesus, pray that the Father will draw them to the Son and position them to live in fullness in His kingdom.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

3 John 2 ESV

Pray for Your Family Members’ Protection

Ask the Father for His divine protection over your family members.

• Pray that the Lord will protect them from accidents and steer them clear of anyone who means or would cause them any harm.
• Pray for their protection from spiritual torment and demonic assault.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to alert you to pray anytime there is potential danger ahead.

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

John 14:15

Pray for Your Family Members’ Potential

Your loved ones have been created in the image of God. Pray that they would maximize the potential He has placed in them.

• Pray that they would know their spiritual gifts and steward them well.
• Pray that they will not squander their gifts, talents, and abilities.
• Pray that they would see themselves as God sees them.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

Pray for Your Family Members’ Power

Ask the Father to help your loved ones walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

• Pray that they would be filled with the Spirit and know His voice.
• Pray that they would have the power to resist the devil and his enticements.
• Ask the Father to arm them with supernatural strength to persevere through difficult circumstances.

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

Ephesians 3:16 NLT

Pray for Your Family Members’ Peace

Pray for your loved ones to experience God’s peace and His abiding presence.

• Ask the Lord to release them from/keep them from trouble.
• Ask Him to give them complete well-being in every area of life.
• Pray for lasting peace that will impact their future and spread to those around them.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 NLT

Pray over these areas, believing that God hears you. Don’t give up, even when it seems your prayers aren’t being answered. As you pray, know this:

“Each prayer is like a seed that gets planted in the ground. It disappears for a season, but it eventually bears fruit that blesses future generations. In fact, our prayers bear fruit forever…Even when we die, our prayers don’t.” Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker

Keep praying.

You share. We shout!