For anyone feeling alone, this is for you…

Person walking in desert

You are not alone.

Right now, many of us are navigating how we can re-establish connections with friends and family we haven’t seen in a while.

This process takes time, and it can seem frustrating. But even when we feel alone and disconnected, we can seek connection with God through prayer, and ask Him to help us reconnect with the people around us.

God is always with us, and He loves it when we seek out honest conversations with Him.

A Prayer for Connection

God, for many of us, this past year was filled with isolation. Despite technological advances, we watched relationships change and drift apart—and we grieved the loss.

But God, we know You can redeem what’s broken. You care about community, and You created us for connection. And, You also gave us Your Holy Spirit who understands what we are facing and prays on our behalf. So when we feel alone, please remind us that You are near—and that You’re not done working.

Re-establish our relationships and show us how to make meaningful connections—even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

Ultimately, we want our loneliness to lead us closer to You and to the people that You’ve called us to love and support. So take our isolation, our disconnection, our social anxiety, and our fear—and turn it into something beautiful that draws the world closer to You and to each other.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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How To Pray for Your Family

Family Week

This week, we shared resources for your family that we hope encouraged and inspired you. But this is only the beginning. As you continue to faithfully show up and show love, God will do infinitely more in your family than all that you can ask, hope, or imagine.

To help encourage you as you continue to lead your family, we’ve created four prayers for families. Pick a prayer that relates to your situation, pray it over your relationships, and save it to your Prayer List in the Bible App.

Pray now:

A Prayer for Families with Young Children

God, children are a gift from You, but raising them is still hard. So when I feel exhausted and weary, please remind me that You are with me. And when I feel overwhelmed, please give me the strength to endure every situation I face. You have called me to parenthood, so please protect my family, and help me to raise my children well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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A Prayer for Families with Teenagers

God, show me how to love my teenagers the way You do. As they start to become more independent, give me discernment. And as they navigate big emotions, help me to be sensitive to their feelings and wise with my responses. Shape them into the people You’ve created them to be and, as You do that, please guard their hearts. Let their identity remain rooted and grounded in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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A Prayer for Families with Adult Children

God, give me wisdom when navigating relationships with my adult children. Before I speak, let me first pause and listen to them. And when I want to fix their problems, let me first call out to You. Protect, establish, and help these adults become the people You’ve called them to be. And as You do that, show me how to meet them where they are. I trust You, and I entrust my children to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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A Prayer for Blended Families

God, You know exactly what our family needs in order to thrive. You understand how hard it is to combine two families, but You also know how rewarding it can be. As we figure out how to lead this family together, please protect our marriage, and help us create meaningful bonds with all our children. Guide us and protect us, and draw us closer to You—and to each other. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Set Prayer Reminders

Now Available: Guided Prayer!

Guided Prayer on phone

When you want to talk with God but you don’t know what to say, Guided Prayer can help you get started.

Try Guided Prayer

What do you talk to God about?

In 2020, we launched YouVersion Prayer: a feature designed to help you have honest conversations with God, in community. Now, you can go even deeper with God in your personal quiet times with the latest YouVersion Prayer experience: Guided Prayer.

Using the Lord’s Prayer as a model, Guided Prayer provides daily prompts that help you reflect on Scripture, draw closer to God, and talk to Him about what’s on your mind:

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy…”

HONOR GOD

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

DEUTERONOMY 6:4

Read this passage again, and think about what it means to be personally known by the one, true God. Sit with this passage for a few minutes, and honor God with your time.

“Give us today the food we need…”

MY CONCERNS

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

JAMES 1:5

Talk to God about what you need. Then, consider adding those things to your Prayer List.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one…”

GOD’S PROTECTION

God, nothing is impossible for You. There is no sickness You cannot heal, no disease You cannot cure, and no fight You cannot win. So right now, I am asking You to protect and strengthen me. I need You to show up in my life. Please do what only You can do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Guided Prayer experience is
now available inside your
YouVersion Bible App.

Try Guided Prayer

5 Prayers for Spiritual Growth

Person praying

What does spiritual growth look like?

Healthy relationships require hard work, good habits, and time spent together. That’s why becoming spiritually mature involves drawing near to God every day.

Below are five prayers that focus on different pathways toward intimacy with God. As you read through them, pick one area to focus on this week, and allow God to transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.


A Prayer for Living Generously

God,

Without You, I have nothing. Every good and perfect gift comes from You—but sometimes, I view the gifts You’ve given me as something I deserve. Sometimes I am tempted to hoard my wealth, time, and resources instead of sharing them with others. Ultimately, I know that I am blessed to be a blessing—so please help me wisely steward the gifts You’ve entrusted to me. Turn me into someone who lives—and gives—generously.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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A Prayer for Rest

God,

In a world that glorifies busyness, it is so easy to fill my time with things that don’t matter. If I’m not careful, I numb out or burn out because I don’t create enough space to rest in Your presence each day. I need You to change the way I think and the way I live. I need You to help me make space for rest. Help me come to You daily—I want to simply be with You.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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A Prayer for Reading God’s Word

God,

Thank You for showing me the paths that lead to life. I am so grateful that I can experience joy in Your presence forever! Help me to live in a manner that is worthy of the calling to which You have called me by spending time in Your Word. I never want to forget that having access to Scripture is a gift. So please make me eager to read Your words. Reveal Your will to me as I spend time in Your presence. Teach me Your word, which is truth.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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A Prayer for Serving

God,

You are so kind to me. And when You gave up Your only Son to save me, You provided me with an example of humble obedience. Thank You for showing me what servant leadership should look like. Instead of seeking my own way, help me to seek Yours. I want to serve You by serving others. So change my heart and help me love others genuinely. Shape me into someone who considers others as better than myself.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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A Prayer for Talking with God

God,

Sometimes I don’t feel like I have the words to pray. I don’t always know what to say to You. What do I say to someone who is perfect in every way? Please help me remember that You want to hear from me. Give me the confidence to speak what’s on my heart with You, but help me to do so with respect. And please let these honest conversations lead me to a deeper sense of awe, wonder, and love for You. Show me how to talk with You, and then make me eager to do it regularly.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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Teach your kids to pray like Jesus.

Bible App for Kids

It can be intimidating trying to teach your kids how to pray—especially if no one ever taught you. But prayer is simply an ongoing conversation between us and God.

Explore prayer together, at a level that’s appropriate for their age, and practice—together. How will you know if you’re doing it right?

You’ll all enjoy praying together so much that you look forward to it.

Your children learn best in fun, meaningful activities that you do together. Take advantage of natural opportunities throughout the day to pray for the different areas Jesus outlined in the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4):

Early in the day. Thank God for today, and ask Him to help you be who He wants you to be.

Mealtimes. Thank God for your food, and ask Him to continue providing for your family.

When we’re upset. Ask God to help you feel better, apologize, forgive—and love each other better.

Bedtime. Here’s a simple prayer modeled after Jesus’ prayer in Luke 11:1-4. Tap below to save it to your Bible App:

Our Family’s Bedtime Prayer: God, we love you. Thank You for today. We’re excited for tomorrow. Please wrap Your angels around us and keep us safe. Help us have a good sleep tonight, with only good dreams. Amen

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