Thanksgiving Children's Prayer Cards: 12 Printable Prayers

Twelve short Thanksgiving prayers for children, on cut-apart cards with a King James verse under each one. They give little ones simple words to start with ("Thank You, God, for...") and every prayer ends in Jesus' name. Use them before the Thanksgiving meal, in Sunday school, or one a night at bedtime in November.

The prayers

• For my food: Thank You, God, for this food and for the people who made it. Every good thing comes from You. In Jesus' name, amen. “Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 136:25, KJV)
• For my family: Thank You, God, for my family and the people who take care of me. Help me love them and obey. In Jesus' name, amen. “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20, KJV)
• For my church: Thank You, God, for my church, where I learn about You and sing Your praise. In Jesus' name, amen. “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 122:1, KJV)
• For my friends: Thank You, God, for my friends. Help me to be a kind and loving friend too. In Jesus' name, amen. “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17, KJV)
• For Jesus: Thank You, God, for Jesus, who came to save us from our sins. He is the best gift of all. In Jesus' name, amen. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15, KJV)
• For the Bible: Thank You, God, for the Bible. Help me learn Your Word and keep it in my heart. In Jesus' name, amen. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11, KJV)
• For what I need: Thank You, God, for a place to sleep and clothes to wear. You give me what I need. In Jesus' name, amen. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, KJV)
• For the harvest: Thank You, God, for the sun and rain that make our food grow. You take care of the whole earth. In Jesus' name, amen. “Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.” (Psalm 147:8, KJV)
• On a hard day: Thank You, God, that You are with me even on hard days. Help me give thanks in every thing. In Jesus' name, amen. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV)
• To share: Thank You, God, for all You give me. Show me someone I can share with this Thanksgiving. In Jesus' name, amen. “He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” (Luke 3:11, KJV)
• For our leaders: Thank You, God, for my pastor, my teachers and our leaders. Please help them and keep them safe. In Jesus' name, amen. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” (1 Timothy 2:1, KJV)
• At bedtime: Thank You, God, for today, and for keeping me safe. Now I will lie down and sleep in peace. In Jesus' name, amen. “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8, KJV)

Ways to use them

• A prayer jar: fold the cards into a jar on the table and let a different child draw one at each meal.
• In class: give each child a card to pray aloud, then read its verse together.
• At bedtime: pray one card a night for the twelve nights before Thanksgiving.

Talk about it

Read about the one leper who came back to thank Jesus in our ten lepers story set, and learn its memory verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which is also on the "On a hard day" card. Then add a thankful chain link or a Thanksgiving verse card to your table.