5 Families That May Not Need to Pray
We value family prayer, and we champion prayer in the home, but before we assume that all families must pray, let us consider 5 families that do not need to pray:
1. Families that do not seek to have worship in their homes may not need to pray.
When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he taught them to begin with a heart of worship, recognizing the holiness of the Father, praying, "Our Father in heaven, holy is your name" (Matthew 6:9). When families pray, they worship.
2. Families that do not desire the guidance of the Lord for their lives may not need to pray.
The Matthew 6 prayer continues with the famous line, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Families that pray together, seek the Lord's will for their homes and hearts together.
3. Families that do not need God's provision may not need to pray.
Verse 11 of this same chapter reads, "Give us this day our daily bread." Every home has needs from daily bread to jobs, rent, healing, wisdom, peace, and much more. Jesus says that "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all" (v. 32). Prayer is when the needs of our hearts are trusted in the hands of our Father; our Provider.
4. Families that never have to seek forgiveness may not need to pray.
Jesus continues his model prayer: "...and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (v. 12). Most days find most family members needing to forgive and needing to be forgiven. These needs appropriately lead us to prayer.
5. Families that can tackle the temptations, trials, and evils of life on their own may not need to pray.
For the rest of us, however, we are taught to go to the Father in prayer, asking for deliverance as we pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (v. 13). When deliverance and protection and freedom and victory are needs, prayers are vital.
Begin Leading Your Family in Prayer
I am convinced that prayer is one of the most powerful, and greatest blessings we could ever bring through the front doors of our homes. It is a habit worth cultivating, a spiritual discipline worth practicing, and an aspect of Family Worship worth enjoying.
One way to begin implementing prayer in the home is to simply start by leading your family in one prayer a day. Whether you pray with your spouse before work, with your children as they get ready for bed, or the entire family over dinner during your Family Devotion, daily prayers can breathe life into the daily rhythm of the home in a way that nothing else can.
Perhaps you can even begin with the prayer examined in this article. Simply gather your family and pray:
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"
(Matthew 6:9-13).
Prayer is crazy important! We have created for you a free guide titled "30 Days Of Prayer." It is a month of prayer ideas for you and your family to use to strengthen your prayer life. You can download the guide by clicking the button below. Thanks.
Jonathan Williams is the founder of Gospel Family Ministries. He is also the author of Gospel Family. Jonathan enjoys this ministry alongside his wife, Jessica, and their three children, Gracie, Silas & Elijah. With a heart for families and the church, Jonathan also serves as the pastor of Wilcrest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas.