A Prayer for My Father Who Drinks
A prayer for your father who drinks asks God to reach your dad and to heal what his drinking did to you. You can pray it at nine or at fifty-nine. Try this: “Father in heaven, I bring You my dad. Reach him. Heal what’s broken between us. Help me honor him without pretending. Amen.”
Safety first: if you live with him and you’re not safe, call 911. If you’re a child or teen, tell a trusted adult today. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself, call or text 988.
Words for Dad
“God, You are the Father who never drinks, never forgets, never leaves. I bring You my earthly father, ______. You know what he carries and why he reaches for a bottle. I don’t fully know, and I may never.
Have mercy on him. Show him he’s still loved. Wake him up to what the drinking costs him: his health, his family, his peace. Put people around him who will tell him the truth. If he ever asks for help, let it be waiting. Before his life is over, let him know You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Words for the son or daughter
“Lord, I’ve spent years waiting for my dad to change. Part of me is still that kid watching the door. Heal that place. Where I learned to hide, to keep the peace, to never need anything, teach me something better.
Help me forgive, even slowly. Keep me from repeating what I saw. Show me where I drink, work or control things the way he did, and give me courage to change. Thank You that You are a better father than any man. Amen.”
When your own father failed you
David wrote that even if his parents let him down, God would take him in.
“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.”
And God calls Himself a father to the fatherless.
“A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.”
What you can do
- Speak once, clearly. “Dad, I love you. Your drinking scares me.” Then let it rest.
- Keep your own home safe. You decide whether he drives your kids or visits while drinking.
- Look at your own story. Growing up with a drinking parent shapes people. See adult child of an alcoholic.
- Get support. Family groups, a pastor, a good friend.
If he chooses to stop, urge him to talk to a doctor first.
Safety first. If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor before you quit.
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
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Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
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Today, one thing
Write your dad’s name on a card and put it where you’ll see it each morning. Pray for him by name this week, and pray for yourself right after.
Common questions
Does honoring my father mean putting up with his drinking?
No. You can honor him by speaking with respect, praying for him and telling the truth. Honor doesn't require you to lie for him, lend him money for drinking, or stay where you aren't safe.
What if I'm still angry at my dad?
Tell God exactly that. The psalms are full of honest anger. Forgiveness is often a long road, and you can start it without pretending the hurt wasn't real.
I'm a kid and my dad drinks. What do I do?
Tell a safe adult: a teacher, a school counselor, a pastor, a grandparent. If you're in danger right now, call 911. If you feel like hurting yourself, call or text 988.
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.
Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
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