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January 31, 2003
“A Family That Prays Together,
Stays Together”
The Significance of Family Prayer
Over fifty years ago, Patrick Peyton coined the phrase, “The Family That
Prays Together, Stays Together.” Then, a family kneeling and praying
together was a common sight. Today however, too few families pray together.
Could this be a reason that too few families stay together? Fifty years ago the
family room was a place of prayer. Today, with the prevalence of TV’s, VCR’s,
DVD’s, and video games, the family room has been reduced to a place of “play.”
The proverb,”Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old,
he will not depart from it” (Pro. 22:6) is applicable to prayer as it is too
holy living. Therefore, Christian parents have the God-given responsibility to
teach their children to pray, just as the disciples realized the need for Jesus
to teach them to pray. What better way to teach children to pray than to
institute prayer in the home so they can learn by example. When parents and
children kneel at the family altar and pray, children begin to understand the
importance of prayer.
Harold B. Lee once said that the greatest work we will ever do would be
within the walls of our own homes. It has been said that the greatest resource
for solving society’s problems is found within the hearts and homes of families
and individual family members. Considering these profound statements, it becomes
clear that as goes the family, so goes society. Therefore, as Christian parents,
our first concern should be to set aside a time and place to pray at home with
our children, than to focus on the laws, which prohibit them from praying at
school.
In any meaningful relationship, there must be communication. Prayer is the
Christian’s communication with God. Prayer is not merely a religious duty, but a
part of our fellowship with our Loving Father. The more time we spend with God
in prayer, the closer our relationship will become.
Tonight, let us echo the words of Patrick Peyton, “The Family That Prays
Together, Stays Together.” Jesus assures us that, “If two of you shall
agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for
them.” Therefore, each family is encouraged to pray for strength,
preservation, and salvation.
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