Whether all of your family members are Christians or not, it is always a good practice to set aside certain times when you will have your devotion together as a family. You come together to talk about God’s Word and pray together. Praying together provides many different benefits for a family. It edifies all the family members, sets a good example, and instills in kids the value of praying to God.
Father in heaven, give us the discipline to pray together as a family. Despite our busy schedules, give us the grace to fight for our family prayer time. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Why Pray as a Family?
It is important to pray as a family because God has commanded parents to teach their kids Who God is and to love Him (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Ephesians 6:4). If parents want their kids to know Who God is and to love Him, they should set an example and establish a culture of praying to God. While prayer alone is not enough, and parents have to teach their kids and disciple them to become godly men and women, praying together as a family still contributes to the children’s development. This is because when a family prays together, especially if the parents lead it, the kids hear from these prayers about Who God is and see an example in their parents for how to praise and worship God through their prayer.
The second reason we should pray as a family is that we are called to worship God, and He deserves it (Romans 11:36; Revelation 4:11). That reasoning applies to all Christians. But why is it that the call to worship God is being mentioned here? It is simply pointing out that just as we are called to worship God corporately as a church community, we are also to worship God as a family. Worshiping God with your family is not just a Sunday thing when you attend church. You do it even in your own home. As a family, you are already like a small church where three or more believers gather to worship, praise, and love God. God deserves to be worshipped; not just in our Sunday church services but also in our homes.
What Makes a Good Family Prayer?
A good family prayer is, of course, biblical. There are different scriptures that tell us how and what to pray to God. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, which is to glorify God, pray for His will and kingdom to be done, pray for our needs that we may glorify God with our lives, be sorry for our shortcomings (not that we are unforgiven in Christ, but it shows that we now hate sin), ask for the grace to forgive others just as we are forgiven, and always be led not to evil but to righteousness.
We have also seen that we are to pray prayers of adoration and worship to God (Psalm 99:5), pray prayers of thanksgiving (Psalm 136:1), cast our cares and prayer requests to God (1 Peter 5:6-7; Philippians 4:6-7), and even be honest with God at times as we have seen in the Book of Psalms. But, being honest with God is more of a personal prayer.
With all of those things, a prayer in which you as a family worship, praise, and adore God would make a good family prayer. Not only do you as a family worship God, but this also teaches the kids about Who God is and sets an example of a life worshiping God.
Father in heaven, You are the God Who created the universe. You sit enthroned in the heavens, and the earth is Your footstool. Holy, holy, holy, are You, LORD. You are perfect in Your works and just in Your ways. You are faithful, and Your mercies are new every morning. I thank You because Your love is steadfast in our lives. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
A Good Family Prayer
A prayer of gratitude to God is also a good family prayer. Not only is glory given to God, to Whom it is due, but also, this kind of prayer teaches the kids the heart of gratitude—that there is always something to thank God for, whether big or small. It is also a great opportunity to thank God as a family for His grace and faithfulness.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for sustaining us throughout our financial difficulties. Despite our challenges, we can still eat well, study, and have the things we need. Thank You for Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Surely, some of the family members have some care or concerns. Perhaps the father is encountering some challenges at work, a son or daughter is applying for a specific college or university or still thinking about his or her career path, or maybe someone in the family is sick. Not only does praying to God as a family about the care that you have teach the kids to humble themselves and rely on God but also, praying to God for your concerns as a family is like doing corporate prayer in the church to pray for the church’s concerns and appeal before God’s throne of grace, which we all have access to in Christ (Hebrews 4:16).
Father in heaven, we pray for my work, which has been challenging lately. Give me the strength and wisdom that I need to get through those challenges, work with excellence, and be faithful in it, for it is where our income comes from. We also pray for the university admission of our son, that he shall have favor in the eyes of the school and be accepted. Give him the wisdom and guidance he needs to choose which course to take. We also pray for healing for my wife, that she will feel better after her sickness of the past few days. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
A Good Family Prayer
If we pray to God, study His Word in church, and do same in our personal time with God in our daily lives, how much more beneficial would it be when we are with our family? If you as a family go to church every Sunday to worship God, you should also do that together in your home. There is grace when you, as a family, read God’s Word and pray together.