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Japanese “Lord, thank you for [name], who married my son. Bless their marriage, keep her well, and draw her close to you. Help me to love her as my own daughter, to hold my tongue when I should, and to be a help to their home rather than a weight on it. Amen.” Any mother-in-law or father-in-law can pray this for the woman their son has married.
Naomi’s blessing on her daughters-in-law
Naomi, the Bible’s best-known mother-in-law, prayed aloud for her sons’ wives. After her husband and both sons had died, she told the two young widows to go home, and she blessed them:
The LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.
Ruth 1:8–9
One of them, Orpah, went home, but the other, Ruth, refused: “whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Later Naomi looked for a husband for Ruth, asking, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?” (Ruth 3:1). When Ruth’s son was born, the women of Bethlehem told Naomi that her daughter-in-law loved her and was “better to thee than seven sons” (Ruth 4:15). The whole story is told in the Book of Ruth.
We can still pray Naomi’s words today, putting in our own daughter-in-law’s name: “The LORD deal kindly with [name], and grant her rest in the house of her husband.”
Prayers for her
In each of these prayers, put her name where [name] appears.
For her marriage to my son
Lord, you joined [name] and my son together, and “what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mark 10:9). Keep them faithful and kind to each other. Teach them to talk through their quarrels, to forgive quickly, and to put each other before their own families, including me. Amen.
For her faith, and my son’s
Father, I want [name] and my son to know you, together. Where one of them believes and the other does not, keep the believer patient and the door open. Where both have drifted, call them back through a friend, a church or a child. Do not let my worrying about their faith become nagging. Amen.
For her health
Lord, keep [name] well in body and mind. Give her rest when she is worn out, and good doctors when she needs them. “The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul” (Psalm 121:7). Amen.
When she is expecting a baby
God, [name] is carrying our grandchild. Keep her and the baby safe through every month, give her doctors and midwives skill, and bring her through the birth in health. Calm her fears, and help me offer help without pressing advice on her. Amen.
There are more prayers for a pregnant woman, including prayers for the birth.
For her as a mother
Lord, [name] is raising my grandchildren, and she does it her way, not mine. Give her patience on the long days and sleep on the short nights. Where her way is good, help me say so; where I disagree, help me keep quiet unless she asks. Amen.
For her work
Father, bless the work of [name]’s hands, at home and on the job. Give her fair employers and good colleagues, and let her use the gifts you gave her “as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). Amen.
When my son is sick and she is caring for him
Lord, my son is ill, and [name] carries most of the weight: the appointments, the nights, the children, the bills. Give her strength and rest, heal my son if it is your will, and show me what practical help I can give them this week. Amen.
Praying for him does not take the place of his medical care.
When she is going through a hard time
God of all comfort, [name] is struggling, and she may not want to tell me why. You are “nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” (Psalm 34:18). Be near her, send her the people she needs, and let her know that I am on her side. Amen.
Prayers for the relationship between us
For a better relationship
Lord, things between [name] and me are not what I hoped. Show me where I have been wrong, and give me the humility to say so. Help us find something to share, and let us be at peace: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). Amen.
After an argument
Father, we have said hard words, and my son is caught between us. Forgive my part. Give me the courage to apologize first, without adding “but.” “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3). Amen.
When she keeps her distance
Lord, [name] keeps me at arm’s length, and I see my son and grandchildren less than I would like. Help me respect the home they have made, and keep me from complaining about her to my son. Soften whatever stands between us, on her side and on mine. Amen.
When my thoughts about her are wrong
God, you see my thoughts about [name], and some of them are not right: resentment, jealousy, criticism I would never say aloud, or anything else that has no place in a family. Cleanse them. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD” (Psalm 19:14). Amen.
For a new daughter-in-law
Father, thank you for bringing [name] into our family. Help us welcome her fully, with her own family, her own customs and her own way of doing things. Let her never feel like a guest in our home. Amen.
Prayers from the marriage services
The Episcopal Church’s 1928 Book of Common Prayer gives this prayer over a newly married couple, and parents can pray it for a son and daughter-in-law on their anniversary.
O God, who hast so consecrated the state of Matrimony that in it is represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church; Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that they may love, honour, and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and of peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer (1928), The Solemnization of Matrimony, p. 303
The Orthodox marriage service remembers the couple’s parents too, in a long prayer the priest says over the bride and groom:
Remember them, O Lord our God, and the parents who have nurtured them; for the prayers of parents make firm the foundations of houses.
Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic (Greco-Russian) Church (1906), The Rite of Holy Matrimony
In-laws in the Bible
Scripture expects a new household to stand on its own: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). It is frank, too, that in-laws clash: Esau’s two Hittite wives “were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah” (Genesis 26:35). The prophet Micah listed “the daughter in law against her mother in law” in his lament over a corrupt age (Micah 7:6), and Jesus used the same words when he warned that following him would divide families (Matthew 10:35). Ruth and Naomi show us the other way it can go: a daughter-in-law who chose her husband’s mother, her people and her God.
Prayers for a daughter-in-law who has died
Churches differ on praying for the dead: Catholic and Orthodox Christians pray for the souls of the departed, and the Episcopal Church’s 1928 prayer book includes such prayers. Most other Protestants do not pray for the dead, but they thank God for the person’s life and pray for the family left behind, above all for a widowed son and any children.
Almighty God, we remember this day before thee thy faithful servant [N.], and we pray thee that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, thou wilt receive him more and more into thy joyful service; that he may win, with thee and thy servants everywhere, the eternal victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer (1928), Family Prayer, “For an Anniversary of One Departed,” p. 598
For a woman, say “her” and “she” where the book prints “him” and “he.” The Catholic short prayer for the dead, as the 1888 Manual of Prayers gives it for one person, is: “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.”
For anyone in the family: Lord, thank you for [name] and every year she was ours. Hold my son and the children in their grief, and let none of us carry it alone. Amen.
If your grief, or your son’s, becomes too heavy to carry, talk to someone today. In the US, call or text 988. In the UK and Ireland, call Samaritans on 116 123. There are more Christian and crisis lines as well.
Prayer for Her Marriage
This prayer asks God to bless the sacred bond between your son and his wife, so that their marriage grows into a partnership of love, respect and shared faith, the cornerstone of their life together.
Heavenly Father, I come before You today with a heart full of gratitude for my daughter-in-law and her marriage to my son. I thank You for bringing them together and for the beautiful love they share. I pray that You would be the very center of their union, the strong, unbreakable cord that holds them fast through every season of life. Please bless their home and fill it with Your presence.
Lord, I ask that You grant them an abundance of patience and grace for one another. Help them to communicate with kindness, to listen with open hearts, and to forgive as freely as You have forgiven us. Guard their hearts against selfishness and misunderstanding, and instead, cultivate in them a spirit of humility, unity, and mutual respect. Let their laughter be frequent and their support for one another be unwavering.
Strengthen their commitment every single day, Lord. In times of joy, may they praise You together. In times of trial, may they lean on each other and, more importantly, lean on You for strength. Remind them of the sacred vows they made before You. May their love for each other be a powerful and beautiful reflection of Your perfect love for us, shining as a light to all who know them. We trust You to guide and protect their sacred bond, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A marriage that rests on God can stand through any storm, and when we pray for their unity we are asking him into their home. As Jesus said, “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mark 10:9).
Prayer for Her Faith to Flourish
This prayer asks God to deepen your daughter-in-law’s own relationship with him, so that her faith becomes a living source of strength, guidance and hope in her daily life.
Dear Lord, I lift up my precious daughter-in-law to You and pray specifically for her spiritual walk. I ask that You draw her ever closer to Your heart. May her faith not be just a tradition, but a vibrant and personal relationship with You. Let her feel Your presence in the quiet moments of her day and hear Your voice guiding her steps.
Father, I pray that she would develop a deep hunger for Your Word. Let the scriptures come alive for her, providing wisdom, encouragement, and a clearer understanding of Your incredible love and grace. Protect her from doubt and discouragement, and when she feels spiritually weary, please renew her strength and refresh her soul. Surround her with a community of believers who will lift her up and walk alongside her in faith.
May her heart overflow with the fruits of Your Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let her be a beacon of Your light, and may her life be a beautiful testimony to Your goodness. Help her to trust You completely with all her heart and find her ultimate security and identity in being a cherished daughter of the King, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
It is a deep joy to watch someone we love grow in faith. In this prayer we place her most important relationship in the hands of God, who promises to guide her path, as Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Prayer for Wisdom and Discernment
Your daughter-in-law faces decisions big and small, and this prayer asks God to give her wisdom and clear discernment, so that her choices honor him and lead her into a blessed and purposeful life.
Sovereign Lord, the giver of all wisdom, I bring my daughter-in-law before Your throne of grace today. You see the path ahead of her, the choices she faces, and the questions that weigh on her mind. I ask You, in Your great goodness, to pour out Your spirit of wisdom and discernment upon her.
In her role as a wife, in her career, in her friendships, and in every personal decision, grant her clarity. Help her to see situations not just from a worldly perspective, but from Your eternal one. Give her the ability to distinguish between good and best, between fleeting trends and timeless truth. Quiet the confusing voices of the world so she can clearly hear Your gentle guidance in her heart.
Protect her from making hasty decisions based on emotion or pressure. Instead, cultivate in her a patient and prayerful spirit that seeks Your counsel first in all things. May she navigate the complexities of life with confidence, not in her own abilities, but in the wisdom that comes directly from You. Help her to build her life upon the rock of Your unchanging truth, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Asking wisdom for someone we love shows that we trust God to be their guide, and James 1:5 tells us to ask: “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.”
Prayer for Her Health and Strength
This prayer is for the whole of your daughter-in-law, body, mind and spirit. It asks God to be her strength and her healer, and to protect her physical and emotional health through everything life asks of her.
Dear Father in Heaven, I thank You for the life of my daughter-in-law. Today, I specifically pray for her health and strength. You are the Great Physician, and I place her complete well-being into Your loving and capable hands. I ask that You would watch over her physical body. Guard her from sickness and injury, and grant her vitality and energy for all her daily tasks.
Lord, I also pray for her mental and emotional health. Life can be overwhelming, and I ask that You be her peace in moments of stress, her clarity in times of confusion, and her comfort in seasons of sadness. Guard her mind from anxiety and fear, and fill her heart with a deep sense of Your calming presence. Remind her that she does not have to carry her burdens alone.
Above all, strengthen her spirit. When she feels weary from life’s pressures, be her supernatural source of power and resilience. Let her find her rest in You. May she feel strong, capable, and deeply cared for, knowing that her Heavenly Father is watching over every aspect of her life. Renew her from the inside out, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
To put her health in God’s hands is an act of love, because he cares about every detail of our lives. The same wish is written in 3 John 1:2: “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
Prayer for Joy and Peace
Real joy and lasting peace come from God alone and not from how things are going, so this prayer asks him to fill your daughter-in-law’s heart with his joy and peace, whatever she is facing.
Lord of all comfort, I lift my dear daughter-in-law to You. In a world that often brings stress and turmoil, I pray for a special outpouring of Your joy and peace upon her. I ask that her happiness would not depend on her circumstances, but would be rooted in the unshakable reality of Your love for her.
Fill her heart with a genuine, bubbling-over joy. Help her to see the beauty in small moments, to practice gratitude, and to find reasons to smile even on difficult days. Let the joy of the Lord be her true strength, lifting her spirit and shining through her to bless those around her. Protect her from the things that try to steal her joy and contentment.
Most of all, Lord, I pray for Your peace—the peace that surpasses all human understanding. When her mind is anxious or her heart is troubled, please stand guard over her thoughts and emotions. Let her soul be a calm and quiet place where she can rest in the assurance that You are in complete control. May she live each day with a peaceful and confident spirit, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
We ask for her a peace that holds steady because it comes from God, the peace promised in Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer for Her Purpose and Calling
God made each of us for a purpose of our own, and this prayer asks him to show and confirm his calling on your daughter-in-law’s life, and to give her the courage and confidence to walk in it.
Creator God, You knit my daughter-in-law together and You know the wonderful plans You have for her. I pray today that You would guide her into the fullness of her divine purpose. Help her to see herself the way You see her: as a woman of value, talent, and immense potential, created for a special reason.
Lord, I ask that You would quiet the noise of worldly expectations so she can hear Your voice speaking to her heart about the path You have laid out. Whether it is in her home, her community, her workplace, or her ministry, show her where she can best use the gifts You have given her for Your glory. Remove any feelings of inadequacy or confusion, and replace them with a clear and certain sense of Your calling on her life.
Give her the boldness to step out in faith, even if the path seems uncertain. Open doors for her that no one can shut, and provide her with every resource she needs to fulfill her God-given assignments. May she find deep joy and satisfaction in walking in the purpose for which You made her, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Praying for someone’s purpose says that their life has meaning. It also brings our own hearts into line with God’s loving plan, as Jeremiah 29:11 describes it: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Prayer for Our Relationship with Her
A loving, healthy relationship with a daughter-in-law is a blessing, and this humble prayer asks God to take away whatever stands between you and to build a strong bond of love, respect and grace.
Gracious Father, thank You for bringing my daughter-in-law into our family. I pray for the relationship that I share with her. Lord, search my heart and remove any pride, selfishness, or critical spirit. Help me to be a source of encouragement, support, and unconditional love in her life.
I ask that You would build a bridge of understanding and grace between us. Help me to listen more than I speak, to offer wisdom only when it is welcome, and to always see her through Your eyes of love. Protect our relationship from misunderstanding, jealousy, or interference. Let our interactions be filled with kindness, patience, and genuine affection. May she always feel welcomed, valued, and cherished as a true daughter.
Lord, knit our hearts together in a bond of peace. Help us to celebrate one another and to be a unified family that brings You glory. May our relationship be a beautiful reflection of Your command to love one another, demonstrating forgiveness and grace in all things. I treasure her, Lord, and I entrust our bond to you, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
In this prayer we own our part in the relationship and ask God’s help to be a blessing to her, which is the heart of Colossians 3:13-14: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Prayer for Protection Over Her
Here we ask God to set a hedge of protection around your daughter-in-law, to keep her safe from physical harm, spiritual attack and emotional distress, and we leave her wholly in his watchful care.
Almighty God, our Fortress and our Shield, I place my beloved daughter-in-law under Your divine protection today. The world can be a dangerous place, and I ask that You would be her constant guardian. Watch over her as she goes about her day—in her home, in her car, at her work, and wherever her feet may take her. Keep her safe from harm, accidents, and all unseen dangers.
Lord, I also pray for your spiritual protection over her. Guard her mind from the lies of the enemy. Shield her heart from discouragement, fear, and negativity. Let her feel secure in the knowledge that she is surrounded by Your power and that no weapon formed against her will prosper. Be her refuge and her strength, a very present help in times of trouble.
Let Your angels stand guard around her, and let her be constantly aware of Your loving presence. May she walk in confidence and not in fear, knowing that she is held safely in Your hands. Cover her with Your grace and keep her under the shadow of Your wings, safe and secure in every way, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
When we pray for her protection in faith and love, we put someone dear to us in the safest hands there are, and we lean on the promise of Psalm 91:11: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
Prayer for Her as a Mother (or Future Mother)
Whether your daughter-in-law is already a mother or hopes to be one day, this prayer asks God to equip her for that high calling and to give her the patience, wisdom and nurturing heart it takes to raise children in a loving, godly home.
Nurturing Father, I lift up my daughter-in-law to You and pray for her in her role as a mother. If she is not yet a mother, I pray for your perfect timing and preparation of her heart for the future. If she is already raising children, I ask that You would give her a special anointing of grace, patience, and wisdom.
Lord, motherhood is a demanding and beautiful calling. Please grant her supernatural strength for the long days and sleepless nights. Fill her with a deep, Christ-like love for her children that is patient and kind. Give her the wisdom to discipline with fairness, to teach with clarity, and to nurture their unique spirits. Help her to create a home environment filled with peace, laughter, and security.
Remind her on the difficult days that the work she is doing is of eternal significance. Protect her from comparison and feelings of inadequacy. Let her find her confidence in You, knowing that You have equipped her for this very role. May she be a powerful example of faith and integrity to her children, leading them to know and love You, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Raising children is one of the most important things she will ever do, and we ask God to give her all she needs for it, with the wisdom of Proverbs 22:6 in mind: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Prayer for Her to Use Her God-Given Gifts
God has given each person gifts of their own, and this prayer asks that your daughter-in-law would discover hers and have the confidence and the opportunities to use them for God’s glory and the good of others.
Gracious and Giving God, You have uniquely gifted every one of Your children, and I thank You for the special talents, skills, and passions You have placed within my daughter-in-law. I pray that You would fully reveal these gifts to her and give her a clear vision for how to use them.
Lord, remove any self-doubt or fear that might hold her back from stepping into what You have for her. Give her the courage to develop her abilities and the confidence to share them with the world. Whether her gifts are in hospitality, teaching, leadership, creativity, administration, or encouragement, I pray that You would open doors for her to use them in meaningful ways.
Let her find great joy and fulfillment in serving You and others with the things You have blessed her with. May she not hide her light, but let it shine brightly, bringing glory to Your name and making a positive impact on everyone she encounters. Help her to see that her unique contribution is valuable and needed in Your Kingdom. Bless the work of her hands and heart, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
To pray that someone will use their gifts is to affirm their worth and promise in God’s kingdom, and to stand behind the instruction in 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Prayer for Comfort in Hard Times
Every life has its seasons of difficulty, disappointment and pain, and this prayer gently asks God to wrap your daughter-in-law in his comfort and strength and to assure her that she is not alone in what she is going through.
Father of Mercies and God of all comfort, I come to You on behalf of my daughter-in-law. You know the burdens she may be carrying, the silent struggles in her heart, and the challenges she may be facing. In these difficult times, I ask that you would draw especially near to her and make Your presence powerfully felt.
Lord, please be her rock when the ground feels shaky and her anchor when the storms of life are raging. Wrap Your loving arms around her and let her feel the profound peace that comes only from You. Soothe her anxieties, heal her emotional wounds, and lift the weight of her worries. I pray that she would not be overwhelmed by her circumstances but would find the strength to persevere.
Help her to see Your faithfulness even in the midst of hardship. Remind her that this season will not last forever and that You are working all things together for her good. Let her find rest for her weary soul and feel the loving support of those around her. Be her hope, her strength, and her ultimate comforter, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Life is not always easy, and in this prayer we go to the only true source of lasting comfort, the God praised in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.”
Prayer for a Heart of Kindness and Grace
Character grows out of the heart, so this prayer is for your daughter-in-law’s inner life, asking God to grow in her a deep kindness, gentleness and grace toward everyone she meets.
Lord, the author of all that is good, I pray today for the heart of my daughter-in-law. I ask that You would cultivate within her a deep and abiding spirit of kindness and grace. May her words be gentle and uplifting, bringing encouragement and life to those who hear them. Let her actions be consistently marked by compassion and thoughtfulness.
Father, help her to see others as You see them. In moments of frustration or conflict, grant her a patient and understanding heart. Give her the strength to extend grace freely, even to those who may not deserve it, just as you have extended Your boundless grace to us. Protect her from becoming hardened or cynical, and instead, keep her heart soft and responsive to Your Spirit.
Let the beauty of her inner character shine brightly for all to see. May her gentle and gracious spirit be a magnet that draws people toward her and, ultimately, toward You. Let her legacy be one of love, an example of a woman who reflected Your own tender heart to the world, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Her character is something of eternal value, and what we ask for her is the high calling every believer is given in Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
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