The Importance of Family Prayer

While doing some research on family ministry, I came across an article written by the seventeenth century English Puritan Rev. Thomas Doolittle. The article was entitled “7 Reasons Families Should Pray.” I think you will find the reasons Doolittle gives for families praying together very relevant to our lives today. Here are the seven reasons:

REASON 1: Because we receive every day family-mercies from the hand of God. He loads us daily with His benefits (Psa. 68:9).

REASON 2: You should pray to God daily in your families, because there are sins committed every day in your families.

REASON 3: You should pray in your families daily unto God, because you have many daily family-wants, which none can supply but God.

REASON 4: You should pray in your families daily because of your families' daily employments and labors. Every one that puts his hand to work, his head to contrive, should set his heart to pray.

REASON 5: You should pray to God in your families daily, because you are all every day liable to temptations. As soon as you wake, the devil will be striving for your first thoughts.

REASON 6: You should pray in your families daily because all in your families are liable to daily hazards, casualties, and afflictions. And prayer might prevent them, or obtain strength to bear them, and prepare you for them.

REASON 7: You must pray to God in your families daily, or the very Heathen will rise up against you Christians and condemn you.

Could anyone say, after reading these seven reasons for family prayer, that it should not be one of the most important activities of family life? I would even say that if you are not currently having family devotions, at least take time to pray together before everyone heads out in different directions. This typically won’t take a great deal of time but it has huge benefits.

Here are some pointers for leading effective prayer time in your home:

Keep it social - Take time to allow each family member to share their personal prayer requests. Even smaller children can articulate their concerns.

Keep it reverent - Don’t allow silliness during prayer time or requests that are not truly heartfelt.

Keep it brief - Remember, your children have short attention spans so many times one sentence prayers for each request is sufficient.

Keep it focused - I have found using a guide for prayer such as A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) can be a useful tool for keeping prayers focused and inclusive of important elements. I often use Praise, Thanksgiving, Confession, Intercession, and Supplication as a guide to my prayers.

Keep it instructional - You are modeling prayer for your children, and they are learning from you how to pray.

Keep it current - Track weekly requests and take time to praise God for answered prayer.

My prayer is that these pointers, and Rev. Doolittle’s seven reasons for family prayer, will challenge you to begin a daily prayer time with your family. If you are already doing this, may they serve as an encouragement to you.

David