Family Prayer Resource is a Christian centered web page.
Why Family Prayer?
Prayer requires faith.
First and most importantly, pray each day that your belief and faith in God is true and will grow stronger.
To begin, we recommend 12 minutes or more each day be devoted to family prayer. Research has found that praying twelve minutes or more a day has a positive effect on the brain. Prayer will also have a positive impact on your family. With this influence on the brain, family prayer will create a family culture of happiness, love, kindness, humility, and forgiveness, and will influence behavior in a positive way when away from the family. But most importantly, family prayer brings us closer to God.
This web page is a collection of resources and examples that may be used for creating or improving the quality of your family prayer life. Provided by our readers are example prayers and materials you may use or modify in developing your own family prayer time.
Or you may simply want to talk to God in your own way. After all, prayer is just talking to God, and He wants to hear our prayers.
This is what the Bible teaches us:
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22
“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
How to develop and organize your family prayer time.
1. Your prayers may fall into one of 4 different categories or as a combination of any of the following:
Supplication Prayer - is when we ask God for what we want and need. This is the most common form of prayer. Praying for good health, security, happiness, etc. is supplication prayer.
Thanksgiving Prayer - is simply thanking God for answering our prayers, for His grace, and for the gifts, benefits, or favor He has provided us.
Adoration Prayer - means praising God. Here are a few words of adoration found in the Psalms: “I will exalt your name for ever and ever”. “They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness”.
Intercession Prayer - is praying on behalf of another person(s), asking for God’s help in easing their pain or curing a medical condition. It is praying for God’s intervention in stoping the sufferings caused by man. There is nothing greater than the power of God.
2. Your favorite Bible verses with a short discussion question is also encouraged during family prayer time.
Examples:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” -Thessalonians 5:22
Discussion question: How can we apply this biblical principle of kindness and encouragement to our family and others in our daily life? (Be specific.)
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.” -James 5:13
Discussion question: How are the words of prayers and the words of praise from a song the same or different?
3. We also a believe using Christian music videos will make a great topic for a prayer time discussion.
Examples for ways to use Christian music videos during family prayer time may be found in the resource section at the end of this web page.
4. For the younger members of the family, provide a short assignment that allows the children to participate in leading a prayer time discussion.
Examples for ways to include younger members of the family may be found in the resource section at the end of this web page.
5. As part of your family’s daily prayer time we encourage praying together “The Lord’s Prayer”. This prayer originates from The Gospel of Matthew, 6:9-13: “Pray then like this…”
The Lord's Prayer (traditional words to the Our Father… taken form Matthew 6:9-13)
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
6. Prayers before meals should also be included as part of your family prayer time program. Some religions have standard prayers before meals, but if you don’t, here is a good prayer to consider.
Example:
Our Heavenly Father, kind and good,
We thank Thee for our daily food.
We thank Thee for Thy love and care.
Be with us Lord, and hear our prayer.
All family members should alternate in leading prayers of thanksgiving before each meal
A Family That Prays Together Stays Together
The resource list below will be updated on a regular basis. Should you have a personal prayer or examples of other materials as listed below, please submit them for review and posting on our web page. Your suggestions as well as personal witness to the power of prayer are welcome. Please submit your contribution by completing the form in the section labeled “contact us” at the bottom of the page.
There are a great number of Family Prayer resources that may be found on the internet, including music videos and children’s Bible studies.
Family Prayer Collection of Resources
12 POWERFUL PRAYERS FOR FAMILY (WITH FREE PRINTABLE PRAYERS) January 4, 2023
https://garmentsofsplendor.com/prayers-for-family/
“Focus on the Family” - An Essential Guide to Effective Prayer for Family
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/an-essential-guide-to-effective-prayer-for-family/
The Catholic Faith
Aquinas Institute of Theology
Regardless of denomination, this web page has some excellent advice on managing your family prayer time.
https://www.teachingcatholickids.com/family-prayer-time/
Prayers for the World
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/topical-prayers/prayers-world
23 Powerful Get Well Prayers
https://garmentsofsplendor.com/get-well-prayers/
This is Christ’s prayer for believers from John 17, starting in verse 20
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2017%3A20-26&version=NIV
Prayer Resources for Children
“A Book of Prayers for Kids”
For the younger members of the family, provide a short assignment that allows the children to participate in leading a prayer time discussion.
Example: Ask the younger family members to draw a form of transportation, car, truck, boat, train, rocket ship, or just create their own vehicle design in witch your family is riding together. Then in the family group ask the child to describe their picture. Who’s in the vehicle and where are they going? What do they like most when being with their family? Would they wish to lead a family prayer thanking God for their parents, brother(s), and/or sister(s)? In conclusion, ask for comments and discussion from all the family members.
Such an assignment would be given a few days before getting together as a family.
How about the 5 finger prayer
11 Creative Ideas for Teaching Kids How to Pray
https://ministryspark.com/creative-ideas-teaching-kids-prayer/
Prayer Bible Crafts and Activities
https://www.daniellesplace.com/html/bible-crafts-prayer.html
Music Video Resources (The power of prayer in music)
God answers our prayers!
“Raise A Hallelujah” Bethel Music
Discussion question: What does “Hallelujah” mean, and how is it used in our worship?
How can we embrace and raise a hallelujah in the face of our enemy? (the devil)
This is the story of Jaxon Taylor. You will see him with his family in the video.
"Raise a Hallelujah" was born out of a spontaneous moment in worship and prayer after husband and wife duo Jonathan David and Melissa Helser had heard the news that Jaxon Taylor, son of Bethel Music CEO Joel Taylor, was in a life-threatening situation.
“Goodness of God” sung by Jeen Johnson Bethel Music
Discussion question: How does the song "Goodness of God" bring us closer to God? How does the song make a difference in the way we live our life?
“What A Beautiful Name It Is” What A Beautiful Name - Hillsong Worship - cover by Reese Oliveira and Friends
Discussion question: What makes the name of Jesus so powerful?
“Every Praise” Hezekiah Walker
Discussion question: Does God need our praise? Why or why not?
Discussion question: How would you introduce Jesus?
