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Welcoming retirement? This retirement prayer guide offers for comfort and guidance to navigate this transition with peace and clarity.
Retirement is a time of change and reflection. It’s a time to look back on the years of hard work and dedication and to look forward to the new possibilities that lie ahead. As you embark on this next chapter in your life, it can be helpful to take some time for prayer.
A retirement prayer can be used to thank God for all the blessings that have been received throughout life, as well as to ask for guidance in the future.
Retirement prayers can also be used to seek strength and courage during this new stage in life, as well as to express gratitude for the people who have been part of the journey.
Bible Verses for Retirement
The best thing to pair with prayer is scripture. In this new chapter of your life, there may be certain verses that resonate with you more and help you trust in God’s care and love in a new way. Before we get to the prayers for retirement, here are a few Bible verses that serve as encouragement in this new season of life.
- This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24
- And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
- A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to harvest. – Ecclesiastes 3:2
- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
- Even to your old age, I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save – Isaiah 46:4
- I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9
- God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19.
- But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31.
- When Joshua had grown old, having lived many years, the Lord told him, “You are old and have lived many years, but much of the land still remains to be possessed. – Joshua 13:1-3
- And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. – Luke 1:23
4 Retirement Prayers
1. Prayer for Starting Retirement
Heavenly Father,
Thank You so much for how You have provided for me throughout the years. It hasn’t always been an easy road, and there have been many days where I worked tirelessly.
But it’s true what they say, that everything eventually comes to an end. The end of something can be both exciting and daunting because you’re stepping into something new, and different.
I’m grateful for the energy that You gave me to work for all these years. I know that it is a gift to be able to rest from the hard work that we do for most of our lives.
On the one hand, I am so grateful that I have time that I can use differently and a new found freedom. I know that the hard days of work have finally paid off.
Yet, on the other hand, the unknown is not always as comfortable as something that gives you a sense of purpose and structure each day.
I know that there are many possibilities on the horizon, so my prayer is for Your guidance in how to best use my time as I enter retirement. Help me to find purposeful ways to use my time whether that is in hobbies or time spent with loved ones.
Help me to grow in the areas of my life that are important, and that I have not been able to previously give my attention to. Help me to rest in Your providence and care for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
2. Prayer of Gratitude for Retirement
Lord,
I am so grateful that I get to retire after all the years of hard work. It’s bittersweet how slow the days used to feel but now I see that the years went so quickly.
I know not everyone gets to see the years of retirement, so I want to express my gratitude for Your care towards me all these years. Thank You for providing me with the opportunities and work that I was able to do.
Thank You for the people that I met throughout my life, who have taught me many things, and some who still remain in my life. I am grateful for the friendships and connections that I was able to forge all those years.
Now that I am able to retire, I can only express my gratitude toward You for carrying me to this point in my life. Thank You for sustaining me day in and day out, and providing for my needs.
I know that this next season will look different, but my prayer is that You would help me to see the beauty in it, and to walk in gratitude each day. Help me to count my blessings, and to seek Your strength daily.
Thank You for this new sense of rest that I get to step into. Please help me to enjoy that rest, and use it not only to be a blessing to me but to others too. In Jesus’ name, amen.
3. Prayer for Wisdom in Time Management
Heavenly Father,
It’s hard to believe that after decades of work, I am able to retire. It feels a little strange to think that most of my life has revolved around work, and now that part of my life isn’t center stage anymore.
I am grateful that You sustained me through all my working years. I know that retirement is a gracious gift, and I am thankful that I am able to experience it.
I have the same amount of time in a day but with so much more freedom now. That requires wisdom, and it’s easy to spend my years of retirement in an unwise way.
You are the God of eternal wisdom, I ask for wisdom and discernment as I navigate this new phase of life. Help me to grow in new and different ways in this new chapter of my life.
Retirement presents new opportunities and challenges, and I pray that you will guide me in making wise choices. Help me to find new ways to use my talents and skills for your glory.
I ask for Your guidance in how to use my time, and where to how to serve in the church, home or community. May my relationship with You grow deeply in this new season, and my focus stay on You.
Help me to take moments of solitude, and rid me of the mindset of constantly being on the go and busy, like in the workforce. Please extend Your grace to me in this transition as I figure out what my life looks like moving forward. In Jesus’ name, amen.
4. Prayer for Health
Heavenly Father,
I pray for good health and strength during my retirement years. Help me to take care of my body, mind, and spirit so that I can enjoy this time to the fullest.
As I get older, I know that my health may decline, but I pray that you will give me the strength and resilience to face any challenges that come my way.
Give me the wisdom to make healthy choices and the courage to seek medical help when needed. May I always trust in your healing power and your love.
Please help me to fuel my body with food that is nutritious and will give me the strength to do the things I need and want to do each day. Help me to cut off any habits that are detrimental to my health, and help me to set new habits.
Help me to take time to reflect on my life, and to see where I need to make changes or amends with my past or people in my life. May there not only be health in my physical life, but in the relationships that I have too.
Please help me to cultivate healthy relationships, and to grow in communication, compassion, forgiveness and love. Please mend broken relationships, and bring peace where certain relationships are beyond fixing. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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