Prayers for Protection: Table of Contents
- Short Prayers for Protection
- Protection from Violence
- St. Michael’s Prayer
- Guardian Angel Prayer
- Protection While Driving
- Bible Verses for Protection
Scripture gives us countless examples of God’s protection, starting with the book of Genesis.
Chapter 22 of Genesis contains the famous story of God testing Abraham through Isaac’s sacrifice. Before Abraham actually harmed Isaac, God commanded Abraham to not lay a hand on his son.
God protected Isaac. And He protected Daniel in the lion’s den. He safeguarded the Holy Family from Herod.
Today, too, God protects us. His protection and safeguarding didn’t exist only during Biblical times. He continues to watch over us today.
Pope Benedict the XVI once said, “God will protect us with love at every moment, guarding our lives from every evil.”
Consider these prayers for protection, which you can pray at any time.
Short Prayers for Protection and Safety
- Come Holy Spirit, be my Guide. Open my eyes and move my heart to follow the path the Father calls me toward. Protect me from evil and temptation. Strengthen me that my heart may remain pure.
- Jesus, through your sacrifice, death and Resurrection, you defeated death and secured for us the promise of eternal life. I ask you today to help me remember that as I encounter any struggles, dangers, or challenges this day here on earth. Give me courage, knowing death will never win. Give me comfort, remembering Your love for me, knowing You gave everything for me. Be with me, now and always. Amen.
- Heavenly Father, I come to You today humbly seeking your protection, for me, my family and all of those close to me. Keep us safe while we’re awake and watch over us as we sleep. Assured of your love, I pray for the courage to live boldly, unafraid of challenges or dangers I may face. Strengthen me, O God, to follow your call to love and serve more fully than many will understand. In Your name I pray.
- Lord, you are my refuge and my fortress. I place my trust in you. Be with me today and protect me from all harm. May the wings of Your angels rescue me from danger. I cling to you now and always, knowing you are near to me in moments of suffering or danger. With a grateful heart, I pray. Amen. (inspired by Psalm 91)
Prayer for Protection from Violence and Terrorism
To pray for protection from the thread of violence and terrorism, consider this prayer courtesy of Pope Francis. Pope Francis shared this prayer in 2016 while making an unexpected visit to a Polish church to pray before relics of two martyrs who were victims of political violence.
He offered the following prayer for protection from violence:
“O almighty and merciful God, Lord of the universe and of history. All that You have created is good and your compassion for the mistakes of mankind knows no limits. We come to You today to ask You to keep in peace the world and its people, to keep far away from it the devastating wave of terrorism, to restore friendship and instill in the hearts of Your creatures the gift of trust and of readiness to forgive.
O Giver of life, we pray to You also for all those who have died as victims of brutal terrorist attacks. Grant them their eternal reward. May they intercede for the world that is torn apart by conflicts and disagreements. O Jesus, Prince of Peace, we pray to You for the ones who have been wounded in these acts of inhuman violence: children and young people, old people and innocent people accidentally involved in evil. Heal their bodies and hearts; console them with Your strength and, at the same time, take away any hatred and a desire for revenge.
Holy Spirit Consoler, visit the families of the victims of terrorism, families that suffer through no fault of their own. Wrap them in the mantle of Your divine mercy. Make them find again in You and in themselves the strength and courage to continue to be brothers and sisters for others, above all for immigrants, giving witness to Your love by their lives.
Touch the hearts of terrorists so that they may recognise the evil of their actions and may turn to the way of peace and goodness, of respect for the life and for the dignity of every human being, regardless of religion, origin, wealth or poverty.
O God, Eternal Father, in Your mercy hear our prayer which we raise up to You amidst the deafening noise and desperation of the world. We turn to You with great hope, full of trust in Your infinite Mercy. Made strong by the examples of the blessed martyrs of Peru, Zbigniew and Michael, who have rendered courageous testimony to the Gospel, to the point of offering their blood, we entrust ourselves to the intercession of Your Most Holy Mother. We ask for the gift of peace and of the elimination from our midst of the sore of terrorism.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
St. Michael Prayer for Protection
Introduced by Pope Leo XII, the St. Michael Prayer for protection is a popular prayer for both individuals as well as communities—many churches have the custom of reciting this prayer at the end of Mass, before the process.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen
Learn more about St. Michael and asking for his protection through the St. Michael Chaplet.
Guardian Angel Prayers for Protection
The catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that God “beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd.”
You can ask for protection through this guardian angel prayer:
O Most holy Angel of God, appointed by God to be my guardian, I give thee thanks for all the benefits which thou hast ever bestowed on me in body and soul. I praise and glorify thee that thou condescended to assist me with such patient fidelity, and to defend me against all the assaults of my enemy. Blessed be the hour in which thou were assigned me for my guardian, my defender and my patron. In acknowledgment and return for all thy loving ministries to me, I offer thee the infinitely precious and noble Heart of Jesus, and firmly purpose to obey thee henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my God. Amen
Find more guardian angel prayers.
Prayers for Protection While Driving
The safety of motor vehicles has improved greatly since they first became popular modes of transportation. Still, we can feel dangers on the road, especially for those who drive professionally, take long road trips, or have to travel in adverse conditions.
Some people have the tradition of saying a short prayer for a safe trip before embarking on their drive. Here’s a simple prayer you can use to pray for protection while driving:
God, please help me arrive safely at my destination today. I pray also for the safety of the other drives I’ll share the road with today. Help me to be patient and attentive. Protect me from any dangerous conditions I may encounter. You’re a God of protection, who guided and kept safe the journeys of Abraham and Sarah, and Mary and Joseph. Protect me on my drive today.
St. Christopher, patron saint of travelers, pray for me!
Bible Verses for Protection
Hallow has a list of Bible verses for protection. There is no shortage of them!
Perhaps the most popular is Psalm 121: 7-8:
“The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Psalm 91 is another popular Bible verse with the theme of protection:
Say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.” He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare, from the destroying plague, He will shelter you with his pinions, and under his wings you may take refuge; his faithfulness is a protecting shield. You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon. Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come. Psalm 91: 2-7
Praying for Protection in Your Own Way
If none of these prayers resonates with you, remember that you can always speak (and listen) to God in your own words.
There’s no “right” way to ask God for protection. The words that come from your heart work completely fine.