We’re about ten days from moving into our new property in the Pacific Northwest. We’ve been praying and dreaming of this day for the last three years and it’s ALMOST here. And now that we’re in the homestretch, the days seem to be flying by, and we find ourselves daydreaming about everything we want to build and grow for the new home.
Just the other day, Luke and I were daydreaming together, and we agreed that we wanted to start off on the right foot with this property. Before we set up a single bed, before we put toilet paper in bathrooms, before our first meal – we want to ask God’s blessing on the home and property and dedicate it to God’s purpose.
Why pray over a home?
Praying over a home is a tradition dating back generations in many faiths. It was a family’s way of recognizing God’s sovereignty in their lives, asking for his blessings and provision and established the home as a place where worship and fellowship would occur. Dedicating a home is a symbolic act that signifies a commitment to live a life of faith and worship within that space. The home dedication is traditionally done by clergy, family and friends, or spiritual elders.
When I was a teenager, the family that adopted me was moving into a larger home and the parents prayed over the new home. As a young Christian, I was fascinated by this idea! We pray for our food, for success in school and work – why not pray for our homes to be blessed? Today, I feel drawn to practice this same faith-based action. So, I have about 8 scriptures that I want to pray over our home, and I’ll share them below in just a moment. But before I do there are a few caveats I feel compelled to also share.
Praying over a home does not mean…
1. We think we’re better than others for doing this.
I want to be cognizant of this post and how others may view our decision. You may not want to pray over your home and that’s fine – it doesn’t mean God’s presences is any less in your home. Think of it like praying over your meal. Sometimes you may forget to pray for God’s blessing over your food. This doesn’t mean you’ll choke every time you forget.
2. We think life will be easy after praying over our home.
We know there will still be challenges in our lives. If you’ve ever gardened, or farmed, you know that those lifestyles sometimes come with hardships and loss. Such is life – and we know God never promised life would be easy and inevitably there will hardships, struggles and suffering. In fact, during his final days, Jesus shared with his disciples that following him could lead to persecution / hardship. John 16:33 states, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (NKJV).
3. We think we’ve “arrived” and that we’ve got it all figured out.
We won’t even pretend to present an appearance that we’re all “put together.” While we’re stepping into this new chapter God has led us to know that we are on a journey and we fully recognize God’s way is greater. While we have a vision for how we’ll use this land, he knows the plans he has for us. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans I have for you” – this is the Lord’s declaration – “plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (HCSB). Isaiah 55:8-9 further emphasizes this concept by highlighting the difference between God’s thoughts and ways and human thoughts and ways. It states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
For context, these verses were in a letter from the Prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish Exiles, God’s promise can apply to us too. Luke and I are stepping into a new chapter, we fully recognize God is the author of our story. He’s holding the pen.
9 Bible Versus To Pray Over a New Home (using the HCSB edition)
1. A prayer for laying a strong foundation in Christ
Matthew 7:24 – 25, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
The house built on a firm foundation, a.k.a Jesus, will withstand the storm. The one who hears and acts on the words of Jesus is considered the wise man – prepared for judgment. You may also find
2. A blessing for the people who live in the new home
Numbers 6:24 – 26, “The Lord bless you and protect you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;” may he look with favor on you and give you peace.”
This blessing is known as the Priestly Blessing and is still prayed over people today. It’s believed it would bring such things as numerous descendants, fruitful land, good health, long life, deliverance from danger and oppression, protection from one’s enemies, and God’s abiding presence.
3. A commitment to serve the Lord
Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
This is more of a declaration made in the book of Joshua, who after leading the Israelites to the promised land declared that he and his family were committed to serving the Lord.
4. A blessing for children in the new home
Psalm 112:1-3, “Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, taking great delight in His commands. His descendants will be powerful in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.”
This full chapter details the traits of the righteous. While the word righteous has come to have a slightly negative connotation, in this sense, we read it as honorable, honest and respectable. It’s not easy dying to our own desires daily, and allowing God’s will to rule our lives, but that’s what we’re called to do. What’s more interesting is that I’ve found more joy when things go according to His plan anyway. Luke and I are raising our children to be Christ-like, to follow the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. Our hope is that they will walk with Him all the days of their lives.
5. A blessing for family unity
Colossians 3:12 – 17, “Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
I feel like this verse could have its own post! It’s chalk-full of good advice on the Christian life. The words in this verse are the essence of what we hope to find in our home and in our new community in the PNW. We want acceptance, forgiveness – just as the Lord has accepted and forgiven us. There’s also significance in modeling Christ’s love, the perfect bond of unity, that binds believers together in complete oneness. We desire the peace and gratitude brought by Christ to control our hearts, not anger or any other worldly emotion. Finally, we’re charged with raising our children and we want to teach (and admonish) them in wisdom. Our prayer is that God gives us His wisdom, patience and love to do so in a way that honors Him.
6. God is with us
John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and took up residence among us.
We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.”
In this chapter, John presents Jesus as the eternal, pre-existent Word-become-flesh and as the one-of-a-kind Son of the Father who is Himself God, Jesus culminated God’s plan of salvation. The words “too up residence among us” translated from Greek literally means “pitched His tent,” an allusion to God’s dwelling among the Israelites in the tabernacle. God demonstrated his presence to His people there – but with salvation, God can take up residence in us, not just the holy places.
Blessing Me and my Home
Psalm 23:6, “Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.”
This verse seems a bit self-explanatory, but in essence, we want to be fully present and recognize that God is pursuing relationship with us and for the rest of our lives we desire his love.
God is Protector
Psalm 27:5, “For He will conceal me in His shelter in the day of adversity; He will hide me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high on a rock.”
The bolded words mean protection when it is God (Yahweh) hiding His people. This verse is often depicted as a mother bird hiding her young under her wings. We pray this over our home, asking God to protect us like a mother bird protects her chicks.
Peace on new home
Luke 10:5, “Whatever house you enter, first say ‘peace to this household.’”
Peace was a traditional Jewish greeting. But the word speaks of wholeness or well-being. We pray for peace in our home for us and for those who may enter in as our guests.
Whether you’re stepping into a brand-new home or simply feeling called to rededicate the space you already have, these Scriptures offer a beautiful foundation to invite God’s presence into your household. You don’t need a formal ceremony or a perfect setting—just a willing heart and a desire to align your home with His will.
For our family, we’re planning to walk through each room and pray aloud. Will the kids sit still for all nine prayers? Probably not. But that’s okay. What matters most is that they’re part of it—that they see and hear us invite God in, that they feel the reverence and the joy of this act.
We hope this home will be a place of peace, joy, and deep faith—not just for us, but for everyone who steps through the door. As we prepare to settle in, our prayer is simple:
Lord, let this house be more than walls and windows. Let it be a place where Your Spirit dwells and where love is always at home.
