7 Bible verses and prayers that work well for graduations

Graduation is a time when new grads and their families look forward to the future and what comes next. For Christian moms, dads and grads, seeking out Bible verses for guidance and encouragement is important.

These seven Bible verses are ideal for graduation. You can use them in a graduation card, at a graduation celebration, in a graduation speech or wherever you can think of. The verses are all from the NIV Bible unless otherwise noted.

Find a set of seven Bible verses and related graduation party printables in various styles in the Families with Grace Etsy store.

Each graduation Bible verse also includes two prayers: one to pray about the graduate and one for the graduate to pray. You can pray these prayers or use them as inspiration for a graduation card message.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3

Prayer about the graduate: Heavenly Father, I ask that you be with my graduate. Help them to stay committed to you in whatever they do. Lord, establish their plans and guide them as they embark on this new phase of life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Heavenly Father, please be with me as I enter into this new phase of life. Help me to stay committed to you in all that I do. Lord, establish my plans, guide me and direct me in all that I’m doing. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” – Colossians 3:23

Prayer about the graduate: Lord, help my graduate to stay focused on you. As they work in their education and career going forward, keep them motivated to work hard as though they are working for you. Encourage them and bless the work you have for them to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Lord, help me to stay focused on you. As I move forward with my education and career, I ask that you motivate me to work hard as though I’m working for you and nobody else. God, help me to stay encouraged, and bless the work you have for me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” – Psalm 20:4

Prayer about the graduate: Heavenly Father, thank you for my graduate. Thank you for the blessing of their life. I ask that you give them the desires of their heart that glorify you. Open the right doors so their plans succeed. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Heavenly Father, thank you for this phase of my life as I get to change and grow from here. Please help me to desire the things that glorify you and give me those desires of my heart. Lord, open the right doors so my plans succeed. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” – Psalm 110:105

Prayer about the graduate: Lord, I praise you for your word and its guidance. I ask that you place your word on the heart of my graduate to light their way moving forward. Give them just the right verse they need at just the right time as they enter this new stage. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Lord, I praise you for giving me your word and the guidance I find in it. I ask that you place your word on my heart to light my way moving forward. Father, lead me to the right verse at the right time as I enter into this new stage. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” – Jeremiah 29:11

Prayer about the graduate: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving my graduate enough that you have plans for them to prosper. Continue to protect them from harm. Lord, help them to live in your hope and trust in the future you have for their lives. Guide them on every step. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me so much that you have plans for me to prosper. Continue to protect me from harm. Lord, help me to live in your hope and trust the future you have for my life, even when the way seems difficult or unclear. Please guide me on every step. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6

Prayer about the graduate: Lord, thank you for the good work that you have begun in my graduate’s life. Continue that work in their life so that it’s carried on to completion. Reassure my graduate that you are always there and have good work for them to do in this new stage of life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Lord, thank you for the good work you’ve started in my life. I ask that you continue to carry on that good work until it’s completed. Please be there every step of the way as I move forward in life. Guide me and direct me to the good work that you have for me to do. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:6

Prayer about the graduate: Heavenly Father, soften the heart of my graduate to submit to you and your will. Lord, make their paths straight and keep them from harm and bad choices. Protect them in every way and watch over them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Prayer for the graduate: Heavenly Father, help me to submit to you and your will. Keep me in your will and out of the way. Make my paths straight and protect me. Lord, help me to make good choices that honor you and honor myself. Protect me in every way, everywhere that I am. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Find prints of these verses in the Graduation Section of the Families with Grace Etsy store!