Luke 18:1 And He spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought to always pray, and not to faint.
What is family prayer? Is it necessary for families to unite and pray? Have we considered what praying with the family can do? Well, family prayer is simply the joining together of family members to communicate with God. Without doubt, it is most essential!
Prayer is the adhesive that keeps a family united. It is the way that individuals and families connect with God. While it is not the only aspect of a life yielded to God, it certainly is a significant component.
There have been many miracles wrought through prayer. I recall a testimony about a missionary who was on a journey in a foreign country. His life depended on his being at his destination before dark. It was very dangerous not to be. One evening, he was caught far from his journey’s end, and could not possibly get to it before dark. He traveled with intense determination, yet it was unattainable. He came to a body of water and had no way of crossing to the other side, but he remembered to pray. After praying, he opened his eyes and God had relocated him on the other side of the water. How amazing! He was able to safely proceed to his destination. It means everything to have a successful prayer life.
Every home needs a strong spiritual foundation to build upon. Family prayer is the most valuable and feasible way to establish that spiritual family foundation. As family members connect in unity through prayer, they become partners, building strong spiritual relationships.
Prayer preserves family relationships, building strong cohesive bonds among its members. It serves as a support system to all who are involved, but most especially the children of the family. Children learn by observation of good examples. Family prayer provides opportunities for them to experience the reassurance that they can trust God for anything. By observing their parents put God first, children learn to do the right thing even when they are tempted to do otherwise. Parents should embrace the highest regard and respect for God, and should endeavor to let nothing curtail their communication with Him. Jesus, the Son of God, prayed to God when He was on earth. We should follow His example and create an effective and durable family prayer life.
Communication with God makes a great impact on every family member, sometimes more than we might realize. I can vividly remember when I was a little girl, that my mother would gather my two brothers and I around her and we would kneel in prayer and cry out to God. Now, as an adult, many years later, it is embedded in my heart to always pray to God. By experience, I know if a child is “trained up in the way he should go, when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverb 22:6). I was taught as a child the value of family prayer.
Having a certain time to pray is an excellent idea, but some families find it difficult to maintain a regular prayer schedule. One way to assure that family prayer occurs is to take advantage of those times when everyone is present. Families should drop everything, come together, and pray. God will certainly honor it. When we put God first, He is faithful to help us with everything that transpires in our lives.
Family prayer is to be approached with the best of humble intentions which is to have sweet fellowship with God. Having such positive intents, prayer becomes very effective in strengthening the members. What is often called The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9, is an excellent guide as to how we are to pray.
Prayer is Key: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the unity of family prayer and for blessings us with the mind to pray together. We ask that You help us to always remember the necessity of maintaining a strong prayer life and to always maintain a determination to have a family that prays together. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
