11 Powerful Prayers for Courage (and free printable!)

Have you heard the old hymn “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”? 

I love the lyrics:

What a friend we have in Jesus, 

All our sins and griefs to bear, 

What a privilege to carry, 

Everything to God in prayer.

Isn’t it amazing that our Almighty God not only will, but also wants, to bear our burdens? We need not walk this life alone and defeated. When our God is only a simple prayer away! 

Are you facing difficult times in your life right now? Prayer is always the answer for every challenging moment. Here are 5 powerful prayers for courage to help you as you seek the Lord’s strength and guiding light.

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Prayers for Courage 

What is the true meaning of courage? According to Merriam-Webster.com, courage is the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.*

I love that definition. Having the mental or moral strength to persevere, withstand fear or difficulty.

Have you ever been through a season in life when you needed the courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other? If you have been walking with God for long, you know these times will come. In fact, Jesus warns us not to expect the Christian life to be filled with wonderful things, but rather to expect tribulation, trouble.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

How we respond to our trials is the key. God tells us to pray about everything, and as long as we ask for something according to His will, we know He hears us. And we find that He provides. 

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

1 John 5:14-15

Just as the father of the child who was “deaf and dumb” cried out to Jesus in Mark 9:23-25, “help thou mine unbelief,” we can pray for Jesus to give us faith that produces courage and inner peace in our times of need. 

The Bible is a beautiful guidebook for every area of our life. It never ceases to amaze me that when I need answers, comfort, wisdom, or even courage for a task, all I have to do is look in God’s Word, and I find what I need.

The Word of God gives us several examples of people like you and me who prayed for help and courage in times of need.  

Prayer for Courage and Confidence 

Some people think of confidence as being cocky or arrogant. However, as you read through the Bible you will find several people who operated in confidence. They had confidence in God and in His ability to answer their prayers and perform miracles. I think of Elijah, a man just like any other, whose confidence in God allowed him to pray and see God do miraculous things. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

James 5:16-18

We can have that kind of confidence and courage, too. To help you, here is a prayer. You might pray one of these short prayers.

Dear Lord, I thank You that You are my Lord and Savior, a present help in time of need. You have said that You have a plan for my life, and I know I can trust You in all things. Today I am struggling. You tell me not to be anxious about anything but pray about everything. Today I am coming to your throne of grace, asking You to give me the courage I need to do your will and confidence to know that when I ask in faith, according to your will, You hear me and give me what I have asked for. Thank you, Jesus! Amen.

Help me, dearest Lord Jesus, to remember I am a daughter of the King, You go before me and make my paths straight, You fight my battles when I am still and trust in You. Shut out all the other voices telling me I am not enough, open my ears to hear only your voice. I ask You to hear my prayer, give me the courage to do all You have asked of me, and the quiet confidence to wait on You and your time. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Prayer for Courage and Strength 

Have you ever been so scared of something that you just felt completely defeated? Maybe it was a terminal diagnosis, a divorce, your child in trouble with the law, or something at work.   

When you read the story of David and Goliath, you might think he was an arrogant teenager. I think he was acting in faith like when Jesus said, we must have “faith as a child.” 

David loved God, remembered all of His past blessings and times when God worked in his life, and it gave him confidence, courage, and the strength to fight his giant. You can have that too! 

When you find yourself in need of courage, why not spend some moments remembering God’s deliverances in your past and pray something like these prayers for courage…

O God, You have told me in your Word to “be strong and of a good courage” and to “fear not,” and I need your help to do that. You have said that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Please help me be strong and courageous today and walk in your strength. I know I can do nothing on my own. I am weak and powerless without You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Dear Lord, even though the world tries to make me believe I can do anything, I know it is only through You and your strength that I can face the giants in my way. Just as David prayed to You and proclaimed, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Lord help me to be like David and trust in you, lead me beside your still waters, restore my soul, and give me the courage and strength this day to do your will. Amen. 

Prayer for Courage and Wisdom

Oh my, how I wish I was wiser! Sometimes is takes courage to do the right thing, the wiser thing. Solomon, David’s son who became king after David, asked God for wisdom, and he is considered the wisest man to ever live. 

Yes, I know, it can be easier to just go along with what we have always done or what is easier. But if we are going to please God we must be courageous and apply wisdom even when it does not make sense to others. 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:5

You might want to pray these short prayers for courage and wisdom.

Thank You, Father God, for giving me all that I need. Thank You for inviting me to come to You any time with all my needs and requests. Thank You for your Word to lead, guide, and direct me. Father, I come to You now asking for wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit for the decisions I have to make in my life. You have told me in your Word that if I lack wisdom I should ask because You give to all who ask for wisdom generously. Thank You for  being true to your Word. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Dear God, as David did, I invite You to show me your ways, teach me your paths, guide me in your truth, and teach me. There are so many things I am responsible for each day, people depend on me, and I want to make decisions according to your will. So please give me the wisdom I need to make good decisions and the courage to follow through. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer for Courage and Determination 

It takes courage and determiniation to continue to pray and trust God in hard times, or when it seems like God is not answering your prayers. Let’s be honest, when we have prayed and prayed for something, and we are trying to trust God in our situation, there are times when we are not courageous. We become afraid He is not listening to our prayers, or that He is not going to answer. The enemy wants us to give up. He wants to take away our courage and determination. Or, else he wants us to think we can get through on our own strength.

Of all the people in the Bible who set an example of courage and determination, I can think of none better than Paul. First, he was determined to kill all the Christians, and then he was determined for everyone to be saved. Talk about a work of the Lord Jesus Christ in someone’s life!

Pray for God to give you an extra measure of courage and determination to continue to trust and to wait on God!

Almighty Father, thank You so much for giving me your Word and examples of people like me. Ordinary people who just wanted to live for You. Also, I can look up to people who encourage me to keep going when life is hard. Thank You for your Word and instruction. I find help and encouragement to strengthen my faith and determination to keep following You in your Word. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.

Dear Heavenly Father, I ask for the courage and determination to live for You as those who have gone before me. You, O Lord, renew my strength. You guide me along the right paths. You teach me that everyone runs the race, but only one can win. Help me run my race with endurance and determination to live for You in every area of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer for Courage and Faith 

It takes courage to have faith. Walking in faith is not for the weak of heart. The good news is that God is with us and has great power to help us through any hard time. He will give us an extra measure of courage and faith needed to know the right way and to take those next steps. 

All we have to do is ask. 

…ye have not, because ye ask not.

James 4:2

God wants to bless us His children with many wonderful things, including courage in the face of fear. You might like to pray a prayer of courage.

Dear Father, I come to You now asking that You forgive me for my sins. Lord God, I need your help today. My courage and faith are weak, and I need your strength, Lord, for the courage to keep fighting, keep trusting You even when my eyes cannot see. Strengthen my faith in You and forgive my weakness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, You tell me that the world will be against me because I am yours. The world did not love Jesus, and it will not love me. But You also tell me that my battle is not against flesh and blood, but it is a spiritual war. I need your courage and faith to fight this war, dear Heavenly Father. Help me put on the whole armor of God and be strong and courageous like You have commanded me. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Father, You have not given me a spirit of fear. I can have faith knowing that You are always with me. You have promised never to leave me or forsake me. Thank You, Father, for your great love! Thank You for your love and faithfulness to me. Thank You for reminding me that faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen. I don’t have to see You to know You exist and work in my life. Please continue to give me the courage and faith to believe your Word is true and the courage to follow You all the days of my life. Amen.

The Bible is the most amazing love letter ever written. We find peace, courage, hope, encouragement, truth, and answers to every need we have. 

Time and again, God tells us to come to Him, trust in Him, wait on Him. He tells us…

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Deuteronomy 31:6

And time and again, we find in our own lives that all of God’s promises are true.

Every child of God will face tough times. But in the face of fear we can cling to truth of God’s power and unconditional love for us. And know that He often uses the trials of life to bring about great things we’d not experience otherwise. 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

What are you trusting your sovereign Lord for today? Come to Him now and ask for a courageous heart to walk with Him today. And trust Him to give you peace of mind in the middle of the storms of life. 

Prayer Resources for You

Use these Free and Premium resources in your quiet time with God or whenever you are in need of courage, strength, determination, and faith!

• FREE Printable Prayers for Courage Prayer Cards
• Free! Bible Prayers Study Bundle & Bible Reading Plan
• Bible Prayers Study Journal – Digital & Printable!
• Prayer Promises Bible Verse Coloring Book
• Let Go and Let God Prayer Journal Bundle
• 31 Days of Prayer for Women Verse Card Set

*https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courage

About the Author – Karen Ellis

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