What Does the God is Great God is Good Prayer Mean?

The ‘God is Great, God is Good’ prayer reminds us of the powerful truth of God’s character in an easily understood way.

Most kids at church are taught a variety of songs and prayers that teach them the truth about the gospel of Jesus.

They get out of Sunday school having memorized a prayer or song they say for the whole week.

One prayer the children kept repeating one day at church is the ‘God is Great, God is Good’ prayer.

It’s incredible how a prayer with 27 words impacts children and even adults like us.

What is God is Great, God is Good Prayer?

The God is Great God is Good Prayer is a short prayer that goes:

God is great

God is good

Let us thank Him for our food

By His hands, we are fed

We thank You for our daily bread. Amen.

History and Origin of the “God is Great, God is Good” Prayer

Though the prayer is ubiquitous among churches, the origins of the prayer are uncertain.

Even the writer is unknown.

Prayers like this are easy to memorize, so they are common to teach among children. 

At a young age, children begin learning the importance of prayer and start getting to know the characteristics of God in a way that is understandable to them.

The popularity of the ‘God is Great, God is Good’ prayer grew among Christian churches and families because of the profound truth weaved into its simplicity. 

It’s a great reminder of God’s goodness and greatness, declared when the family is together – during mealtime.

Thus, it’s a prayer that strengthens faith as it is declared in the moment of shared faith, togetherness, gratitude, and joy.

Breaking Down the God is Great God is Good Prayer

God is good

If there’s one attribute of God that everyone knows, it’s probably that “God is good.”

Thanks partly to the Don Moen song we clap our hands to – God is good (all the time!)

Jesus said, “No one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18).

Some of us find it hard to understand the goodness of God because we put it side by side the way we view goodness from a human perspective – that is, good intentions and good works.

But the goodness of God goes beyond the goodness we see in humans. 

God’s goodness reflects His love, mercy, and grace.

We experience God’s goodness in the saving grace of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

He paid the penalty of our sins and rose on the third day to prove His promises of eternal life

The gospel of Jesus Christ shows us just how unfathomably good God is in the mundane and spiritual.

God’s goodness further emphasizes that He is for us and not against us (Romans 8:31) and that everything that happens to us, triumphs and trials alike, works together for our good (Romans 8:28).

God is great

When we talk about God’s greatness, we also talk about His power, sovereignty, and authority.

He is the Creator of heaven and earth and everything in it.

When I witness a majestic sunset or star gaze at night, I feel a deep sense of awe for the wonder of God, and yet these do not encompass His greatness and majesty. 

The Psalmist says, “Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” (Psalm 145:3).

Saying God is great is saying He is incomparable, the only one worthy of honor, glory, and praise.

God’s greatness also covers His power to judge the righteous from the unrighteous, which will be fully displayed on the Day of Judgment. 

But God is also great in steadfast mercy, grace, and love.

He sent His Son to be our righteousness so that we can be reconciled with Him, redeemed, and share in His glory when Jesus comes again.

How God is Great God is Good prayer emphasizes God’s character in a simple way

Sometimes, it’s challenging to find words that encompass God’s characteristics.

It’s even more difficult to teach who God is to children with their many questions and limited understanding. 

The ‘God is Great, God is Good’ prayer is straightforward yet sheds light on the goodness and greatness of our Lord.

It connects to food, which is a necessity for survival.

It demonstrates that in God’s goodness and greatness, He cares for and loves us and provides for our needs. 

Children can grasp the prayer’s meaning, which serves as a springboard for many of their discoveries of God’s attributes and how they impact their lives.

As adults, we tend to complicate things and forget the foundational essentials of our faith.

We might think this prayer is for children alone, but when adults like us get lost in life’s complexities, a simple yet truthful prayer reminds us who God is and how He works in and through our lives.

Prayers inspired by “God is Great God is Good”

Prayer of Gratitude for Meals

Lord God, thank You for the bounty in front of us.

We thank You for knowing our needs before we ask them and provide them generously.

Bless this food to energize our bodies and sustain us for the day ahead.

Bless all who are here who share in this meal.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Prayers for God’s Blessings and Protection

Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your wonderful creation and work.

I come before you in humility and full recognition that everything is by Your grace.

I cannot rely on anything or anyone for salvation, blessings, and protection but You alone.

Lord, I trust in Your word and promise, and I pray for Your generous provisions for all my needs.

I also pray for Your mighty protection against sickness, accidents, danger, and spiritual attacks.

I give you praise, glory, and honor forever and ever.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Morning Prayer of Thanksgiving

Dear Lord, I wake up and breathe today only by Your will and grace.

Thank You for another morning to enjoy the life You give, serve You, and love others.

I pray for Your presence as I go about my day.

Allow my thoughts, words, and actions to be Christlike so that I can be a worthy witness of Jesus.

I commit this day and my entire life to You, Lord.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Prayer for Grace After Meals

Heavenly Father, thank You for the provisions we can enjoy with thanksgiving.

Your love is sufficient for us, and while physical food gives us sustenance, our faith in Your promises gives us life.

We continue to pray that we remain grateful for the rest of the day.

Fill us with Your grace as we go through our tasks so that we shall not want apart from You.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Prayer for God’s Presence and Grace

Heavenly Father, I pray Your presence will surround and protect us.

Every day, we are faced with tribulations and are susceptible to the attacks of the enemy.

We take refuge in Your word and promise.

I know You will command Your angels to guard and minister to us.

You will go before us and be with us all of our days.

Lord, Your presence and grace give us liberty and rest.

Fill our minds with peace.

The noise and chaos of this world will drown in Your grace and presence.

All glory and honor are Yours.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Prayer for Family and Loved Ones

Dear Lord, thank You for surrounding me with people who love me and whom I love.

I surrender the lives of my family and loved ones to You.

I pray for conviction and repentance for those who do not believe in You.

For those who have a relationship with you, I pray You strengthen their faith in mercy and grace.

Protect all of them from harm and spiritual attacks, Lord.

May our love for each other grow as an overflow of Your love for us.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Prayer to be Thankful in Good Times and Bad

Almighty Father, You are above everything, and Yours is the name that deserves all worship and glory.

Even though I cannot fathom Your sovereignty, I know You care for and love me.

You are sufficient in all my experiences, whether positive or negative & good or bad.

Teach me to be grateful despite the hardships of this life.

Allow me to embrace the joy I experience only through and in You.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Evening Prayer for Rest

Lord, my body and mind are weary, but still, I thank You for the day that has been.

As I lay tonight, I humbly ask to rest in Your shadow.

Allow me to surrender the thoughts that bother me and make me anxious.

Remind me to trust and leave all my worries to You.

Give me peaceful dreams and a long, rested sleep.

Protect every corner of my home from danger and evil.

Watch over me and my loved ones in the darkness of the night.

Renew my strength and bring blessings, protection, and care for tomorrow.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Bible verses that support the “God is Great, God is Good” Prayer

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

Matthew 6:25-26

Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.

Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they? 

Psalms 31:19

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! 

Psalms 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 

Psalms 86:8-10

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any words like yours.

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 

Deuteronomy 32:3

For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! 

Ephesians 1:18-19

Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might. 

Impact of God is Great God is Good Prayer

The ‘God is Great, God is Good’ prayer reminds us of the powerful truth of God’s character in an easily understood way.

The prayers we and our children memorize in our younger years echo in our hearts and help solidify our faith and belief in God as we mature in our walk in Christ.

This prayer speaks the truth of God’s goodness and greatness and concretizes it through the provisions of our needs.

It also emphasizes our response – hearts filled with thanksgiving and honor for the God we worship.

In Conclusion

The ‘God is Great, God is Good’ prayer is simple and straightforward indeed but powerful and profound!

We can teach our children this prayer and recite it even as adults, as it reminds us of God’s persevering goodness and greatness.

When we are worried and afraid, this prayer helps us remember God’s provisions and allows gratitude to overcome us.

Try reciting this prayer during your mealtime with your family this week!

EDITOR
Alex Shute
Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. His passion is to serve the global Church and bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn & grow.
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