Family prayer

[Chrysostom]

We join you in thanking God for His blessings upon your family, and we bring your silent requests before Him with you. Scripture teaches us to let our requests be made known to God with thanksgiving, and there is nothing so pleasing to Him as a thankful heart.

We give thanks with you for what you have seen and for what you have not yet seen, for God in His love pours out blessings and works all things for our good, even when we do not fully understand His ways. He loves us more than earthly parents love their children, and He hears even the prayers we do not speak aloud.

So we pray now, Heavenly Father, we thank You for this family and for Your goodness to them. You know the silent requests that have been lifted in the name of Jesus, though they are unspoken to us. We ask that You would answer each one according to Your wisdom and mercy, give peace to their hearts, strengthen their faith, and guard their hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus. Help them to continue in prayer and thanksgiving in all things, trusting that Your peace which passes all understanding will keep them.

We thank You that we can come to You through Jesus Christ alone, and we trust You to do what is best for this family. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

[Silas]

Thank you for sharing your family's prayer and for bringing your silent requests to the Lord in the name of Jesus. God hears even the prayers that are never spoken out loud. He knows what you need before you ask, and He invites you to come to Him as Father because of what Jesus has done for you. That relationship is what makes prayer possible and meaningful.

Scripture reminds us that the earnest, heartfelt prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. That righteousness is not our own, but what we have through faith in Christ, and when we pray from the heart in dependence on Him, God works. It is not the length of a prayer or eloquent words that make it valid. The prayers recorded in the Bible are often very brief, and even a quick silent prayer lifted from the heart in a moment of need is heard by God.

Prayer is not meant to inform God of something He does not know, nor is it a way to get our own will done on earth. Its true purpose is to see His will done. Prayer begins with God and His purposes, which He makes known to our hearts, and we then return them to Him as our request. That is why Jesus taught us to pray, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The wisest prayer we can pray for our families is, Lord, have Your perfect way in our lives.

Prayer is also worship, a recognition of who God is, His greatness and goodness and power, and it opens the door for Him to do what He has long desired to do without violating the will He has given us. For that reason we are encouraged to continue in prayer and to watch with thanksgiving, bringing our needs to Him again and again while trusting Him with the outcome.

Be encouraged to remain people of both prayer and the Word, bringing your family before Him daily with thanksgiving. He sees each silent request, He understands the burden behind each one, and He is faithful to answer according to His wisdom and love. May He strengthen your family, draw each of you closer to Jesus, and accomplish His good will in your home, and may His peace and comfort rest upon you as you wait on Him.