PRAYING AT HOME

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Prayer is the very core of a relationship with Jesus and is simply a conversation with God and how we maintain a relationship with him. However most people when they think of prayer they think of a pastors lengthy, well worded, well organised prayers, that inevitably make you feel intimidated or uncomfortable about praying with your family and affects how or even if you pray.

However we believe it’s more of a matter of having the desire to pray , starting somewhere and keeping it simple and authentic. In the popular song by Maverick City, in the song -  "Talking to Jesus", the artist sings this: "There's no wrong way to do it. There's no bad time to start. It don't have to sound pretty. Just tell Him what's on your heart. Cause it's not a religion. Cause it's more like a friendship. Just talk to your Father. Like you are his kid."

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?

Prayer is heart communication with God.

Pray with full assurance of faith and confidence in God
Trusting God when we don’t have all the answers. God hears our prayers and responds according to His plan and purpose.
1 John 5:14: This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Pray in surrender to God
Praying for God’s will to be done, not ours and remaining faithful even when His will is different from ours.
Luke 22: 39,41-42: He withdrew about a stones throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done".

Pray continually and earnestly
Just keep praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Pray with humility
God is God, we are not, we should let Him be God. He is our loving father who knows everything about us.
2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land.

Pray with a desire to be heard
When we speak we have God’s attention. He wants to hear what you have to say.
Psalm 116: 1-2: I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

Pray with boldness and a desire to be answered
Pray expecting something to happen.
Hebrews 4:16: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

It models your faith for your children
When your children see how important prayer is to you and how easily you pray and turn to prayer in everyday situations in life, the more likely they will be to pray.

Family Prayer time
This is a perfect opportunity to nurture the spiritual development of your children.

Growing in your faith
As you pray you are growing in your faith and your children are learning about having a conversation with God and shaping their understanding about God and prayer.

WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN IT COMES TO PRAYER

  • Be sensitive to the personality differences in family members and their preferences, Don’t let those differences keep you from praying. 
  • Don’t put pressure on anyone to pray in a certain way. Give permission for people to pray in their own way. 
  • Encourage prayer often in your home helping your family discover that you can connect with God ANYTIME, ANYWHERE and ABOUT ANYTHING. Lead your kids in prayer so they will learn how to talk to God.
  • Use prayer to teach your kids that they are very special to God and He cares about the things that matter to them, no matter how small anyone else thinks that is.
  • What works for one child may not work for the other, especially if you have children of different ages. Be willing to enjoy and try new kinds of prayers to match the differences of everyone in the family.
  • Prayer is a great time to shut out the noise of the world and connect with God and remember He is always with us. 
  • Prayer is not just about us talking to God but also listening, take some time to pause and listen.
  • Through prayer you will become more aware of what’s going on in each other’s lives. Prayer will be a way to see how God has been at work. Your kids will also gain insight into your relationship with God. 
  • You don’t learn to pray by reading a book. You learn to pray by praying. It will feel strange at first, sometimes embarrassing and uncomfortable but you will get better.

RESOURCES FOR PRAYER

1. FAMILY PRAYER APP

Download this awesome app to help you and your family pray together in the ordinary everyday moments like meal time and bed time, when you are already together...
DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID
DOWNLOAD FOR APPLE

2. Praying through the bible FOR your kids...

Daily encouragement for parents who realize the things they want most for their kids are things only God can do . . . so they pray.

In The One Year Praying through the Bible for Your Kids, trusted author Nancy Guthrie weaves together wisdom and insight from each day’s reading in The One Year Bible, providing encouragement through the triumphs and turbulence of parenting. Day by day you’ll find your dreams and desires for your children are becoming shaped more by Scripture than by the culture around you. Worry less, pray more, and help yourself to a daily dose of perspective, hope, and grace as you parent. 
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY