When I look back the journey of my life, I would not hesitate in saying that the greatest example that my parents gave me as I grew up was that they loved each other and loved God. This was best evident in the family prayers we had every morning and every evening in our home, where they did not hold back their appreciation to God for giving them each other and later us as children. This circle of love grew as the family expanded but the habit of family prayer still is integral to our lives. When new nests were built away from home, one part of the home that we carried with us was the habit of family prayer.
What is family prayer?
Family prayer is the most precious intimate time that the family spends with each other and with God. Early morning before the day begins, the father, mother and children and the larger family if present, would come together for a time of worship, meditation and prayer. We normally sang a song of praise and thanksgiving for the gift of the new day, read the Bible and had a short meditation and then prayed together that the day would be spent meaningfully. We then went into the busy schedules of the day. Likewise, in the evening before we retired, we came together again thanking God for the protection and guidance throughout the day. We reflected if we did acts or commission or omission we should not have done. We spent time interceding for people in need and committing ourselves to the mighty arms of the Lord for protection. Then we went into the bliss of the nights.
What are the Advantages of the habit of family prayer?
Family Prayer instils a sense of togetherness and bonding
Quality time together is crucial for any relationship to be meaningful and enjoyable. What the habit of family prayer offers is prime quality time together. This naturally develops a deep bonding between and longing for each other.
We realise that the greatest challenge of family relationships today into the insurmountable abysses that are being creative visibly and invisibly between members of the family. Prayer prevents this from happening and even if unexpected gaps develop, prayer gives the strength to build bridges and mend the brokenness.
The sense of bonding that family prayer brings in between the members of the family is incomparable with any alternate possibilities because it is the Holy Spirit that becomes the glue that binds people together in love.
Family Prayer helps us to be at the centre of God’s will
Prayer is a time where you experience the presence of God in your inner being, adore God for God’s majesty, grace and loving kindness, seek pardon for the short comings, listen to the still small voice of God guiding and instructing you, sometime exhorting and challenging you. We seek God’s strength that we stay close to the plan and purposes of God in our lives. It gives us tremendous resilience to face temptations boldly and provides inner courage to say “no” wherever it is required. It keeps us safe from falling into traps that infringe into moral turpitude and helps us stay in tune with the will of God. The Moral and Ethical framework of life becomes integral to us not out of compulsion but out of love and awe to God.
Family Prayer gives us a heart of gratitude and a mind of hospitality
What we primarily do after wondering at the beauty of the presence of God is thanking God for the blessings. When we start counting our blessings and naming them one by one it invariably surprises us as to how great and caring God is in the lives of each of us. When we start appreciating the value of each small gift the more thankful we become. This thankfulness opens our life to others and our hearts and homes transforms into spaces of hospitality where all feel welcome.
Family Prayers liberates us from selfishness and helps us see the needs of others
Prayer is not a shopping list where we bring just our needs before God. My grandmother used to say it is about Praise, Pardon and Petitions and the last of these was always for others in need. We used to name people suffering, contexts that were turbulent, injustices that were intolerable and situations that were unbearable for others. These prayers always unshackled us from selfishness and opened us up to see deeper the anguish of others. It made life much more meaningful and liberated us from the ‘rut of the routine’ and challenged to be salt and light in more visible ways. One of the blessings we usually had at the end of morning prayer was the prayer of Jesus- As the Father has send me so I send you.
Family Prayer is the hub of forgiveness and stress release
In a normal family life interpersonal conflict can happen on various counts and sometimes it roughs the feathers the wrong way. The biggest advantage of a regular family prayer is that the grudge within cannot stay beyond the starting point of prayer. Reconciliation invariably happens with a smile before the prayer and as Paul suggested we ensure that the anger is sorted out before the sun goes down. Normally we do not carry the weight of the previous day when we come for morning prayer, and we are able to start everything afresh happily.
Stress could happen for various reasons but is most evident when we feel strengthless to handle a particular situation. It could make you physically, mentally and emotionally unstable. But in prayer you see the shoulders of others that you can lean on and see the presence of God who is able to strengthen us and we come out of prayer having released the pressure within. This would also ensure good health. Prayer is thus a healing experience.
Family Prayer is the source of strength to traverse tough terrains
Each of us invariably travel through tough patches in life. Prayer would then be the best coping mechanism we could have in the system to derive strength for such journeys. It is strengthening to know that we not alone, we are not judged and that God will make a way when there seems no other way. Family prayer is thus considered the foundation of strength, comfort, inspiration and love and these four transforms into the beacon of light that anyone who travels rough seas in darkness would much need to rely on. That’s why the Psalmist is sure though he walks through dark valleys he can be assured of the rod and the staff of the shepherd who is able to restore the soul from any turbulence.
Conclusion
A similar habit around prayer I imbibed was not to eat any meal without a prayer of thanksgiving to God and remembering the sweat of people whose toil was behind each meal reaching us. In a world where several people do not have food to eat and where several have, but cannot eat for various reasons, being able to eat is a blessing. But it also gives us a responsibility to be concerned about the hunger of others and to commit ourselves towards causes of food and water justice.
Yes, Prayer is a Habit. If this is not a habit in your family yet- its worth making it a habit. You won’t regret that.
Vinod Victor
July 1, 2023
Freiburg Anglican Church 