Evening Prayer for Families: Building Daily Habits

TL;DR: Evening prayer is more than a bedtime ritual—it’s a powerful, legacy-shaping habit that builds spiritual connection between fathers and their children. Dads can model consistent, heartfelt prayer, teaching their kids to trust God and pursue Him daily, especially in a culture that often pulls families apart. Use evening prayers to create bonds, reinforce faith habits, and disciple the next generation with confidence and Scripture.

When I was little, my dad would sit on the edge of my bed at night and listen as I recited my evening prayers. I don’t remember the specific words of that prayer, though I’m confident the words never varied from night to night. But I do remember his presence, at least in my early years.

At some point, my evening prayer life took on a different form. To be honest, it was not as consistent, but it became more genuine over time.

Whether you’re praying with your younger kids or teenagers, evening prayers remain a vital part of raising a godly family in the moment and preparing your kids to be men and women of faith in the future.

Benefits of an Evening Prayer Habit

The Bible is clear that Christ followers are called to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We should be so connected to God and His leadership that we can speak a prayer to Him at any moment and in any situation. Jesus Himself found times to pray, both in the morning (Mark 1:35) and at night (Matthew 14:23).

But there is something special about spending time with the Father in the evening. And teaching your children the practice of evening prayers today can make a huge difference in their lives now and as they mature.

Establishing an evening prayer routine produces at least two primary benefits. First, it builds connections between you and your children. It’s impossible to pray with someone and for someone without drawing closer to that person. Praying with your kids and for them creates a bond that is like nothing else in this world.

Second, the practice of saying evening prayers before sleep reinforces the importance of prayer and nurtures it as a habit. While you don’t want your children quoting the same words every night when they’re teenagers, you do want them to understand why coming to God with their needs—and simply to praise Him—makes a difference. You want them to be comfortable approaching Him with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).

After all, He is our Father. We have received sonship through His grace at the moment of salvation. He wants to hear from us.

Practical Help for Evening Prayers

You don’t have to be a theological scholar to share evening prayers with your kids. You don’t need a seminary education or a certificate proving that you’ve completed some kind of course or program.

You just need a heart that longs to connect with your heavenly Father and that longs to help your kids do the same. As you consider how to establish an evening prayer routine in your home, reflect on these four principles.

Make evening prayers a priority. Prayer and Bible study are the lifelines of the Christian life. Family devotions and evening prayers can support the family the way personal quiet times and prayers nurture our individual growth. So, make evening prayer time a priority in your home. Spend time praying with your kids each night, and spend time praying for them before your head hits the pillow.

Make evening prayers age-appropriate. As believers, our prayer lives should change and mature over time. The same is true for evening prayers. As I noted earlier, when I was a kid, I repeated the same rote prayers every night. It was what I knew and what I was comfortable doing. But as I grew in my faith, I “put aside childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11). Every child is different, so adapt your evening prayer times to fit the specifics of your son or daughter. Meet them where they are as they pray—because that’s exactly what God does.

Make evening prayers participatory. I’ve said that you need to pray for your kids on a regular basis, but I hope you’ve also noted my emphasis on praying with your children each night. While one goal of evening prayers is to connect with the Father, another is to teach your children how to pray on their own. In a sense, you’re playing the role that Jesus played when His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1).

Make evening prayers biblical. Jesus’s response to His disciples in Luke 11 provides what has been called the “Lord’s Prayer” or the “Model Prayer.” It offers us a framework for building our prayers around praise, intercession, thanksgiving, and supplication. But it’s also a great reminder that praying Scripture can be a great starting point for your evening prayers. In some cases, you might want to quote Bible verses back to God as prayers. In other cases, you might want to paraphrase a thought or principle to fit your context. But praying Scripture is a discipline that strengthens evening prayers.

Examples of Powerful Evening Prayers

Again, evening prayers don’t require a special formula or precise wording. Like all prayers, you simply need to speak from your heart to the God who made you, knows you, and loves you more than you can imagine. In the space below, I’ve written some prayers for particular seasons and situations that you can use as a launching pad for your own evening prayers.

Your prayers may be longer or shorter. That’s OK. Adapt them to fit your needs. You might even practice writing out your own evening prayers. The origin and length are not nearly as important as building the habit and the motivation of your heart.

A Prayer for Infants

Lord, You are my perfect Father. I am far from perfect as a father, but I long to follow Your example. You have placed this little one in my life on purpose. You believe I am the perfect dad to raise this child to become more like You. Teach me what it means to be a father in Your image. Forgive me when I fall short and help me rely on You. I can’t do this alone. I am grateful that I don’t have to.

A Prayer for Children

Father God, growth is a part of life, and I see it at work in my children’s lives each and every day. You have brought them so far so quickly. Thank you for Your grace. As they continue to mature, help them draw closer to You. While I try to be the best father possible, I know that You are the Father they truly need. Even at this stage of life, help them discover You as both Savior and Lord. Encourage them to find and use the gifts and talents You’ve provided for Your glory. Help them become someone after Your own heart.

A Prayer for Teenagers

Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of raising teenagers. I don’t always understand them. I don’t always grasp their words, their thought processes, their struggles. But I do know that I love them deeply. And I know that You love them even more. I know that You have a purpose and plan for them. So, I pray for them. I pray that You would continue to shape them into Your image so they can shine like stars in a dark world. I pray that they would hold firmly to the truth of Your Word in a culture that will do all it can to lead them astray. I pray that they would lean into You and trust You. And I pray that I will give them an example that’s worth following in all of these areas myself.

A Prayer for Bedtime

Dear Lord, guard my heart even as I sleep. Renew my mind and sanctify my dreams. Protect my body so it can bring honor and glory to You. Keep me in perfect peace because I trust You.

A Prayer for Times of Struggle

Lord, when King Hezekiah felt the threats of the Assyrians, he brought those threats to You. He laid them out before You and placed them into Your hands. Right now, Father, we are facing a struggle. We are facing a time of trial and uncertainty. We don’t know how it’s going to end up. But we know You are in control, and that You are working things for our good and Your glory. God, help us to keep our eyes on You, to trust You—even when it doesn’t make sense to us. Thank you for being with us each step of the way. Give us wisdom to take the steps that will keep us on Your path.

A Prayer for Wisdom

All-knowing and all-loving Creator, nothing escapes Your notice and nothing catches You by surprise. You are the answer to every question we’ve ever asked or could ask. Right now, we don’t know what to do. We don’t know which direction to take. You’ve said in Your Word that if we lack wisdom, we can ask You for help and You will provide what we need without holding anything back. Father, that’s our prayer tonight. Grant us Your wisdom so we can fulfill Your plans and purposes. And we will give You all the glory. Thank You for hearing our cries, and thank You in advance for showing us Your way.