7 Lent Prayers to Draw Your Family Closer to Jesus

The 40 days of Lent invite us to slow down, reflect, and realign our hearts with Christ as we journey toward the Cross and empty tomb. These seven scripture-based prayers and conversation starters will help your family deepen its faith and embrace the beauty of surrender, repentance, gratitude, and hope.

Use these prayers and questions in ways that naturally fit into your family’s routine. For example, try them over dinner, in the car, or through a simple text. Pick the questions and prayers that resonate most, adapt them for different ages, or use them as journal prompts. However and wherever your family uses them, let these prayers and questions draw you closer to Jesus and each other, one day, one prayer at a time.

1. A Prayer of Surrender (Giving Our Hearts to God)

Scripture: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23 NIV

Prayer: Oh Lord, I’ve already declared with my mouth that I am yours, and You are my Savior. But, as we enter the season of Lent, I feel like I need to confess to You. I struggle to take up my cross daily and follow You. I get distracted by comfort, my schedule, and, if I’m honest, my own desires and self-centeredness. But it’s not just me. It’s everyone in my home. Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit, please work in us so that we joyfully give our hearts and minds to You daily. Help us surrender our will and submit to Yours. Amen.

Talk About It: What area in your life feels hardest to give over to God right now?

2. A Prayer of Repentance (Seeking God’s Mercy)

Scripture: “Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10 NLT

Prayer: Father, I confess my sins to You. I am ashamed by the ever-growing list of ways I fall short of Your perfect plans. Please forgive me. I know that because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the Cross, my sins are covered by His blood. His sacrifice was the ultimate sign of Your mercy. I don’t deserve Your mercy or grace, but I know you offer them to my family and me. Father, every day, please work through the Holy Spirit to renew our loyalty to You so that we may glorify You. We serve You and You alone. Amen.

Talk About It: What makes it hard to admit when you’re wrong? Why is it important to repent?

3. A Prayer of Gratitude (Recognizing God’s Blessings)

Scripture: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

Prayer Focus: Father, thank You for loving us. As my family thinks about Easter and the death and Resurrection of Your Son, how can we not be filled with anything but awe and overwhelming gratitude? Father, You know it’s been a tough year, but I look around and see your blessings. Your goodness and mercy follow my family through every mountain and every valley. I am thankful for them all, but I am profoundly grateful for the work done on the cross. Amen.

Talk About It: What unexpected blessing have you noticed recently?

4. A Prayer of Service (Loving Others as Jesus Did)

Scripture: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” – Mark 10:45 NIV

Prayer: Father, Jesus showed us the perfect example of servant-hearted love. He humbled Himself and gave His life for us. Help me and my family to follow in His footsteps by serving one another with love, kindness, and humility. Open our eyes to those around us who are in need. Give us willing hearts to be Your hands and feet, offering love and help where needed. Amen.

Talk About It: How does serving others make us better understand Jesus?

5. A Prayer of Strength in Fasting (Relying on God Instead of Ourselves)

Scripture: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4 NIV

Prayer: Lord, fasting is hard, but we’re doing it to know You better. Whether we are giving up food, distractions, or habits, we feel the pull of our own desires. But we don’t want to rely on ourselves or anything else. We want to rely on You. Give us strength when we feel weak and grace when we stumble. Remind us that You alone sustain us. Help us use our hunger and longing for something other than You as a reminder to turn our hearts toward You, seeking satisfaction in Your Word and presence instead of temporary things. Amen.

Talk About It: What habits or things distract you from spending time with God?

6. A Prayer of Reflection on the Cross (Remembering Jesus’ Sacrifice)

Scripture: “By his wounds, we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5 NIV

Prayer: Father, the Cross is a symbol of suffering, so much suffering. But it’s also a symbol of love beyond what my mind can comprehend. Your Son willingly bore our sins, endured pain, and laid down His life so that we might be redeemed. It’s too great for us to comprehend fully, but we pause today to remember Your sacrifice. We don’t ever want to take it for granted. Help our hearts to be filled with gratitude and our lives be a reflection of Your love. Amen.

Talk About It: When was the last time someone made a real sacrifice for you? How did it make you feel?

7. A Prayer of Resurrection Hope (Looking Forward to Easter Joy)

Scripture: “…just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” – Romans 6:4 NIV

Prayer: Lord Jesus, the Cross was not the end of the story. Your Resurrection brought victory, hope, and new life to all of us! I ask that You help my family keep our eyes fixed on the hope of Easter morning. We rejoice no matter what trials we face because we know that You have conquered death and given us eternal life. Fill our hearts with the joy of Your salvation and the promise of new beginnings. Amen.

Talk About It: Have you ever had a “new beginning” moment? What happened?
As you pray through these reflections, may your home be filled with the presence of Christ, drawing you closer to His love, grace, and the hope of the Resurrection.