Last Updated on October 19, 2023 by Emma
Want to pray before you leave the house? Looking for meaningful prayers to help you with the words to say?
These five prayers below are set up for you to pray at a point in time, or for a particular reason when you leave your house. Of course, the prayers can be modified to fit into the specific circumstance that fits you. They are intended as a guide and a help to you.
We leave our home each day for a variety of reasons. We depart to go to work, to school, to run errands, to visit others, or to make a medical appointment. We also leave our house to go on vacation or to get food. As we exit our house each time, it can be helpful to remember that we are guided by God’s wisdom:
“A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth: (Proverbs 17.24, NIV).
Leaving our house means leaving our place of rest and safety. That can also mean being directly exposed to the violence and hatred of the world. When we are at home, we tend to relax, to “let our hair down.” Home is a space where we are our real selves, our vulnerable selves. At home we don’t “put on airs” and pretend to be people we are not. We are more authentic in our home.
So, when we leave our house we enter in society and sometimes may feel like we have to put on a “public” self to be accepted or to make it through the day. You are encouraged to pray as you leave the house each day in order to be confident in God’s presence with you.
Praying as you leave your home can be a way to be more true to who you really are. Praying can fill you with God’s Spirit of truth and faith. Praying can give you the strength you didn’t know you had. Leaving the house can be seen as a ministry to whomever you encounter that day.
Wouldn’t it a transforming experience to exit your home not with drudgery about what’s ahead, but with excitement that you get to serve God in whatever you are doing that day? Can you imagine how your life could be different simply by changing your perspective on your purpose?
How empowering it would be to pray each time you left your house, trusting that God was going to use you in some way, big or minor, to fulfill his will in the world, or to influence someone with his love?
Knowing this might be the nudge you need to pray more, in general, and to pray specifically when you depart your home each day. Give it a try for a week and see how you feel. Witness what happens as you pray.
Praying may bring forth your own prayer requests and we invite you to share them at the end of this article.
A Short Prayer Before Leaving the House
As I go out into the world today, Lord, I pray for guidance throughout the day. With each person I meet, let it be your words I speak. With my actions, let your grace be evident in every encounter. I go forth in peace and may I return home in peace. Protect my home from any harm while I am gone. I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayer Before Leaving the House in the Morning
Dear Jesus, I am about to leave home for the day. I’m headed off to run several errands that all need to get done today. I pray I keep on schedule as I go through my to-do list.
I ask that nothing happen to my house while I am gone–no water leaks or fires or home invasions. I depart each day trusting that I can return to my refuge each evening. I enjoy my home, Lord, and I thank you for the blessing of having this house.
As I prepare to get in my car, I pray about the day ahead. May the pathway before me be straight and free from obstacles so I can achieve what I need to this day. I feel like I have a purpose for this day so help me be aware of how you are guiding me at each appointment.
Guide me, protect me, and let me be serving you in all I do today. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer Before Leaving the House at Night
Lord, I have been called away from home this evening for an emergency. I know I can help in the situation so prepare me mentally and emotionally to be fully present with the people I will see.
I’m torn between wanting to serve in a way I can help and being frustrated that I have to leave. I was relaxing at home and I was winding down for the night. Help me gain your perspective on this situation, Lord, so that I can be your servant–a light in this dark night.
Keep me safe as I go to where I am needed and bring me safely home to rest and sleep. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Prayer Before Leaving the House for Vacation
Father in heaven, I want to pray to you before we leave the house to go on vacation this week. Guide us safely to where we are going and return us to our home refreshed and renewed. Help our family enjoy our time together at our vacation spot.
While we are gone from our home, I ask that you watch over our house and prevent anything from happening to this house. It is such a blessing to us to live here and grow our family in this house. I ask that you keep thieves away and keep this house safe.
Thank you Lord, for our neighbors who are feeding our dog while we are gone. Bless them for their service.
I know you are with us wherever we go, so as we leave this house to go on vacation, I trust you will be with us where we are going. And so, when we return, we return home to you. I pray all of this in the loving name of Jesus, our Lord, Amen.
Prayer Before Leaving the House for Work
Lord Jesus give me strength as I leave my home this day to go to work. I thank you so much for this job. I have a purpose each day and can earn money for my family. I wish I could work from home but I am grateful for this opportunity.
I pray to you asking for wisdom to make good decisions. When I leave my home for work, I do so believing that you have me going to a place where I am needed to bring your love and grace to people I encounter. I leave home as a servant of the Lord each day. Strengthen me in that role as I depart today.
Whatever I encounter, help me see your hand at work so I may trust you for the outcome. Bring me safely home where I can rest tonight and prepare for tomorrow. I ask all these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Concluding Thoughts
Our homes are important to us and we like to be at home. We enjoy our family in our homes or entertaining friends. We also like the solitude we have in our house, a place hopefully free from the stress of work or the world.
So, when we leave our house, whether it’s on a regular basis for something like a job or errands or appointments, we can acquire the habit of praying to God as we depart. It’s a way of centering our minds and hearts that God is with us–at home, and wherever we go.
Since we can pray to God at any hour of the day or night, and we know that God hears our prayers, why not include a prayer each time you leave your house? Many of you likely already pray for loved ones that travel so why not pray yourself as well? Who knows what God will do as you pray? And, you will benefit from connecting with God at a time that you ordinarily wouldn’t prior to now.
Praying as we leave the house is also a way to remind us that we are followers of Jesus and thus are lights in the darkness. We can bring the flavor of faith and mercy in a bland world of unkindness. Knowing this is our role should encourage us to pray to God when we exit our home.
“The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous” (Proverbs 3.33, NIV).
However you decide to use the prayers above, we invite you to make prayer a habit for you and your family. Closing the door of your home as you leave can be a physical reminder to engage in the spiritual opportunity of prayer.
As you pray, you may recall requests of your own. Please share those requests down below in the comments section.