Let me start this off by saying: I’m not great with words. My wife would say it’s because I was home schooled; I would like to think it’s because, while others have the gift of words, I have the gifts of service and actions. So today, instead of trying to lay out clever guidelines and action points, I am going to do you one better. I am going to let God’s word encourage, convict, and strengthen you when it comes to praying His truth over your family. It’s something that everyone can draw from – no matter if you’re single, married with no kids, married with kids, or empty-nesters – we all find ourselves in some relation to family. At the very least, God has adopted us into His family, calling us sons and daughters.
Through my own experience with family, there have been many ups and downs and I find that God’s word is the best place to draw from when praying His truth. Below I will share some of my most reliable scriptures and themes that I always come back to, and underline the parts that have encouraged, convicted, and changed me. The bracketed parts give you a fuller and deeper understanding of what is meant in the passages.
I hope this encourages you. It’s never too late (or too early) to pray God’s truth over your family!
You are God’s Family
Genesis 17:7
I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
Duet. 30:6
And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
What does a Godly family Value?
Joshua 24:15
If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.
Discipline in a Godly Family
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with lovingkindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Hebrews 12:11
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].
Love in a Godly family
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].
Mark 5:23
…and begged anxiously with Him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; [please] come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].
Prayer in a Godly family
1 Timothy 4:4
For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified [set apart, dedicated to God] by means of the word of God and prayer.
Ephesians 1:17
[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son].
Ephesians 1:18
And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope[the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),
Grace in a Godly family
1 Peter 5:10
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be].
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.
Lastly, A word on Leadership in a Godly Family
Ephesians 5:22-33
To be a leader you must sacrifice yourself first and foremost for all others. To be a leader you must forgive first and without expecting return. To be a Leader you must do the right thing even if it means sacrificing everything. To be a leader you must serve. To be a leader you must love even when the person hates you.
