A prayer for protection asks God to watch over you and the people you love, and it usually borrows its words from the Psalms. Those psalms were sung by people who knew real danger. They speak of God as a shelter, a keeper and a refuge, and they say it without claiming that nothing bad ever happens. Here are five short prayers, for the places we most often feel exposed.
For the day ahead
Lord, I'm going out into a day I can't predict. Keep me, and keep the people I love. Give me sense enough to act wisely and trust enough not to be ruled by fear. Amen.
“The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
Psalm 121:8 (KJV)
For your family and home
Father, watch over this house and everyone who sleeps under its roof. Guard our doors and our hearts. Amen.
For someone traveling
God, they're on the road tonight and I can't go with them. You can. Bring them where they're going, and let me hear they've arrived. Amen.
For a frightening night
Lord, I'm afraid tonight. Be my hiding place. I'm going to say Your name until I fall asleep. Amen.
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
Psalm 91:1-2 (KJV)
For children away from you
Lord, they're out of my sight and never out of Yours. Keep them safe at school today, and put kind adults near them. Amen.
Prayer and practical safety
Praying for protection goes hand in hand with wise action: locking the door, telling someone where you're going, asking for help. Nehemiah's people prayed and also set a watch, and it wasn't a lack of faith.
“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”
Nehemiah 4:9 (KJV)
If you or someone you love is in danger right now, please call 911. In the US, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is at 1-800-799-7233. You don't need to stay somewhere unsafe in order to be faithful.
For more on fear, read prayers for anxiety or Bible verses for anxiety and worry.
Send this one to someone who is traveling, or facing a storm of their own. Fig Devotional is a daily devotional for iPhone: a verse, a prayer and one small action, ending in a card like this one. Its guides are illustrated characters and its reflections are written with AI.
Common questions
What is a short prayer for protection?
Try this: Lord, be my shelter today. Watch over me and the people I love, in our going out and our coming in. Amen.
What is the psalm of protection?
Psalm 91 is the psalm most people think of. Psalm 121 is also widely used, especially for travelers, because it speaks of God keeping your going out and your coming in.
Does praying for protection mean nothing bad will happen?
No. Believers still suffer in Scripture and today. These prayers ask for God's care and presence. They aren't a guarantee of safety, and they don't replace sensible precautions.