13 Prayers for Summer – from road trips to relaxation

This summer is going to be one of our most fun yet without even leaving home – we get to watch Baby J grow! As a new mom, I’m learning to thank God for the special times where I am forced to slow down as I care for my baby. He’s just about 3 months old which means so many firsts have happened recently or are happening soon – his first smile, his first chuckle, and his first time sleeping through the night (we are so lucky this has already happened a few times! 😴) That’s why one of my prayers for summer is that we soak in this special time with our newest addition.

Summer also means travel for us – and so many friends and family are excited to meet Baby J! Before our first trip with him, I was so anxious about forgetting things, deciding what to bring or what not to bring for him, and how he would handle the plane ride. As I thought about these things, I realized how I needed to bring all those worries to God. He knows my stressors and all my summer hopes and plans. He is in control of everything and my life is so much better when I come to him in my prayer. Let’s lift our hearts in prayer together in each and every situation this summer.

Prayers for Summer Travels 

Airplane

1. Lord, give me peace as I fly. Bless all those who make my trip possible – the flight attendants, pilot, technical crew, and everyone in between. Thank you for air travel as a way to get places faster. Thank you for this trip. Please help me to land safely at my destination. You know all my comings and goings. You know what I have planned. I pray that all will go well, all will be safe, and all will be protected by your holy presence. Take my worries about my summer travel. Help me to remember all I need to and deal with what I forget. God, you are so good and gracious. Be with me as I travel and always. 

Road Trip

2. Bless this road trip, Lord. Bless my conversations, my thoughts, and my driving time. Allow me to enjoy the moments to slow down and take it all in as I travel on these roads. Keep my car running smoothly and let nothing go wrong. If anything does happen, help me to deal with it gracefully and efficiently. Lord, you go before me. You are with me. You will not leave me or forget me. I will not be afraid. I will not worry. Bless my summertime travels with your presence. (See Deut 31:8)

International

3. I am so blessed to have the freedom to travel. Give me safety as I journey this summer. Remind me of your goodness everywhere I go. Help me to be considerate as I visit a place so different from my own country and city. Give me and those around me patience as I navigate cultural, linguistic, and other differences. Thank you for creating so many beautiful places. Thank you that I am able to travel and enjoy them. Give me peace as I journey into unknown situations and unfamiliar places. Thank you for these opportunities for adventures. Amen.

Domestic

4. Thank you for another journey. Thank you that I can visit family, friends, and places in the United States. There is so much here to enjoy. Bless my time as I travel. Lord, just as you went before the Israelites allowing them to travel safely (See Ex 13:21), go before me as I travel this summer. Show me your peace and your presence in every trip I take, whether near or far. Help me to have patience when I feel frustrated by people I come into contact with. Help me to have humility when I need to check my own behavior as a tourist or guest or visitor in someone else’s home, city, or state. Thank you for another day to live and move and breathe and travel.

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Prayers for Summer Weather

5. You are the light of the world. Let your line shine both physically and metaphorically by allowing me to enjoy this beautiful weather. Thank you for the sun and the clouds and the blue skies. Everything you have created is good. God, please give us good weather to enjoy. Let the sun shine and the temperature stay comfortable. Let us enjoy your creation this summer. Thank you for all you have made. This summer I pray for good weather. That those that need rain would have it, those that need sun would have it, and those that need the gentle reminder of your presence through a lovely afternoon breeze would have it too. I pray that I will enjoy all you have created this summer. Even the heat when it feels too hot, let that be a reminder of your warmth and light in my life, Lord. You created the heavens and the earth. You created the light and the dark. (See Gen 1:1-4) Help me to be grateful as I go about my summer days.

Prayers for Summer Camp

6. Lord, bless the teens and kids headed to summer camp this year. Let this be an opportunity for them to hear your Gospel and accept the good news of salvation. I pray that many more lives would be brought to you through the teaching and relationships of summer camp. For those in my church and those in my life who are volunteering, working, or attending summer camp this year, I pray that their lives would be enriched by the experience. Thank you for the opportunity you have given so many to be touched by your love. Let summer camp be a place for many young Christians to be strengthened and built up.

Prayers for Summer with Kids

7. Lord, thank you for this special time I have with my kids. Thank you that school is not forever. Bless our activities and help me to be an influence of your love and grace. Lord, keep our family close to you and to each other as we spend more time than normal together. Help our time together be relaxing and restorative. Keep tension away from our interactions and help us all to live at peace with one another. Give me the wisdom to know how best to spend our summer days. Give me the strength to say no when I need to. Thank you for these summer days. Let me never forget how precious they are.

Prayers for a Slower Summer Pace

8. Lord, thank you for the slower pace of summer. Thank you that summer means sunshine and sunshine is good for everyone. As I travel or stay home or visit friends or go for hikes or anything in between, remind me of your peace and presence. God, you are so good. You created the heavens and the earth. You created each season and made it unique. As I enjoy my summer, help me be mindful of those I can influence for good. Help me to be generous with my time and my resources as I live out my summer days. Help me to connect with you in meaningful ways this summer. Thank you for another season to experience your goodness and grace.

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Prayers for Educators

9. God, bless the teachers in my life. Allow them to enjoy their much needed break and not feel pressured to plan or prepare anything for at least a few weeks out of the summer. Help educators who have the summer off to get exactly what they need – whether rest or travel or fun or peace. Take their worries and their concerns for the upcoming school year and allow them to let go of those things, at least for a time. There is a time for everything (see Ecc 3), including a time for teachers to rejuvenate and a time for teachers to ready themselves for what’s next. Help them to balance their work and their life as they live out their summer vacations. Thank you for strong, faithful, and dedicated educators. Thank you for the influence these people have on young minds. Help them to enjoy their breaks and know how appreciated they are.

Prayers for Whose Needs Aren’t Met This Summer

10. God, I recognize that not everyone has what they need this summer. I pray for those without homes who are facing the heat. I pray for those without jobs who are struggling. I lift up those that don’t have regular access to clean water or fresh food. I lift up those whose basic needs aren’t met and pray that you would provide. Help me to be grateful for all that I do have and be generous with what I can offer to others. God, you are good. You save the lost and the broken. You deliver the poor and the weak. Let those in need taste and see that you are good. Let those in need come to you this summer, Jesus. (See Ps 34) Let those who have resources to give be generous. May all our needs be met in you.

Prayers for Summer Relaxation

11. God, thank you for all this time you’ve given me. It is wonderful to relax and enjoy my family’s company, the home you’ve given us, and the bliss of summer days. Please help me not to waste these days, or any other days you’ve set before me. Lord, you know I struggle to relax. You know that rest can be hard for me. But rest is what you’ve promised me when I come to you (See Matt 11:28-29). When I am weary, you fill me up again. Help me to relax this summer. To be okay with taking time to just lie down, to enjoy peace and quiet, to do things that make me feel happy. The life you’ve given me is a gift. Help me to live it out well. Amen.

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Thanksgiving Prayer for Summer

12. Thank you Lord for the summertime. Thank you for the way plants flourish in the sunshine. Thank you for the joy of swimming in a lake, ocean, or pool on a hot day. Thank you for shade and wind and cool evenings. You created seasons of rain, seasons of sun, seasons of cold, seasons of heat, and everything in between. In seasons of plenty, I will praise you. In seasons of drought, I will praise you still. Lord, you are good and your love endures forever. Thank you for giving me this moment to pray and remember your goodness in my life. I praise you for these summer days.

Prayers for Summer Transitions

13. Lord, I lift up those in a season of transition this summer. I pray that you would guide their steps, give them wisdom, and grant them peace in their decisions. For the students transition between grade levels, for the young children about to start kindergarten, for the families saying goodbye to college students, help them to be prepared. Help them to find the items they need, enjoy these last few weeks before school, and be optimistic about what is next. God, for those moving, changing jobs, or any other kind of life event, give them peace as well. Help each person who knows you and loves you to trust in your plans for their life as they transition. Help us all to give you the glory in this season and every season. Thank you for your grace and your provision in every stage of my life.

What else are you praying for this summer?

Two things helped me with my anxiety about Baby J’s first adventure. First, the amazing support of my husband and second, the peace of knowing that God is in control. I checked every item off my packing list and we didn’t forget anything. The baby slept, nursed, or looked around quietly the entire flight. Afterward, people even commented, “Your baby did so well; he hardly made a sound!” Everything went so smoothly and I am so grateful for it.

What or who else are you praying for this summer? Which prayer above spoke to you the most?