Turning to prayer as we navigate our relationships
Relationships shape much of how we experience life - from how we see ourselves to how we connect with the world around us. As a Christianâfounded organisation serving people across Australia, Mission Australia recognises the importance of healthy, respectful relationships in fostering dignity, belonging and wellbeing.
Nurturing relationships takes time, patience and intention, and for many people, prayer can be a meaningful way to reflect, seek guidance and grow in compassion for others. The four prayers below have been written by Mission Australia’s chaplains to support thoughtful reflection on relationships and the care we extend to one another.
Four ways you can pray for your relationship:
Great and loving God, I come to you in my time of need.I ask for your grace in the struggles I face. I pray for your peace in the conflict I feel.
Help me to know the strength and security of Jesus' peace as I face turmoil in my personal world.
Grant me the wisdom I need in all my relationships. Help me to recognise when things may be unsafe for me. I pray for your protection over me and my family when we feel vulnerable.
Thank you for having the power to heal broken relationships. I pray for that healing to occur wherever I am experiencing conflict in my relationships at this time.
I pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
– Paul Sanders, Chaplain WA & NT
Lord, when I am feeling hurt by those closest to me, when I cannot forget what they have done, help me find my way back to love.
When grief over the cruelty of unkind words and actions overwhelms me and the hope of ever being close to them again alludes me, show me how strong love really is.
Help me believe that hanging on to my bitterness will harm me more and by letting go I will find peace. Wash over me with your deep love. Grant me grace to unlock the power of forgiveness and in my suffering learn to forgive.
– Jenny Berry, Chaplain TAS
Dear God, thank you that you can help me to restore a broken relationship.
Help me to trust that you can restore what has been damaged. Give me the strength to work through any relationship that has become difficult.
Give me the strength to work towards a relationship that has been broken. Bring refreshment and renewal once again into my heart, thank you for being my ever-present help in times of need.
Replace my fear with faith in you and protect me from becoming bitter and hard of heart in a difficult relationship. Please protect me from becoming angry and fill me with your love and compassion. Hear my prayer today through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
– Robert Paino, Chaplain QLD
“He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3
Loving God, thank you that I was created to be in relationship with others, even though at times I may not be as present as I could be with the people I hold dear.
In all my relationships I ask for your love to shine through me.
In all my interactions may your wisdom guide my words and every decision that I make.
Jesus, may your selfless example always be before me and be mirrored in my heart and in my relationship with others.
– Karen Ravenscroft Wheeler, Chaplain NSW/ACT
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” – Philippians 2:1-4
