Family Devotions and Prayer

[KeptByTheWord]

Do believe it is important for the family to have family devotions and prayer together?

If so, how often do you get together as a family to read the Bible, and pray?

If not, why not?

[votivesoul]

ABSOLUTELY!

My family and I do them.

I think they can be more important than the experience one typically finds in a church service.

I realize not everyone in the Body has the chance to have a husband and father lead them, but when this occurs, and the children are interested, something special that can only occur under this setting happens.

As far as a schedule, I think whatever works best for you.

I have a seminar on the subject that I teach. If you're interested in it, I can send an email with attachments. There is a power point, notes, teacher's manual, and audio files of when I taught it at my church.

[KeptByTheWord]

Family devotional times are what makes a family bind together in ways that nothing else will. There is something comforting, and uniting about reading the Bible together, sharing thoughts, concerns, insights, prayers etc. together as a family, and then praying together. Our family has done this for many years, and it has been such a privilege and blessing to do this.

I remember one time a preacher, who has since gone on to be with the Lord, made this statement. He said "Don't just pray FOR your children, pray WITH your children." Our family has been blessed with this advice. It is not enough for me to pray for my children, but they need us to pray with them. We pray together as often as we can, and we have family devotions together on a regular basis.

I would encourage every family here who would desire to watch their children grow and mature in the Lord to consider having a set time each week for family devotions. If it is not possible every day, at least once a week. You will be amazed at the insight you may get from their reading of the Word, and how this time together will knit your family together in love, like nothing else can.

Votivesoul.... thanks for your input.... Thanks for offering to share the material you have. I am interested in it.

I believe having home devotions is the key to building stronger family units, especially in these uncertain days we are living in.

[KeptByTheWord]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY-pttIAoYI

[KeptByTheWord]

I guess it saddens me that no one else on here but Votivesoul would agree that having family devotions is a key component to having a strong family unit.

There was a dear old saint of God, who was a praying woman, who constantly encouraged our family to hold our own family devotions. This was a woman, who on her birthday, or other special days or holidays, would summon her huge family (they had ten children, plus all the extended family members) to her home, to have a prayer meeting. Instead of celebrating Christmas or other special holidays, they would gather together as a family and pray. Most of her sons and daughters are in active ministry today. She lived her life to pray, and encourage all around her to do so too.

It was she who encouraged me, and taught by example, more than anyone else, to have regular times of family devotion, Bible reading and prayer. I will forever be grateful for her influence on my life.

If you don't have a time set aside with your family, I would encourage you to do so. There is no greater way to spend time with your family, than by praying, and reading the word of God together. A family that prays together, stays together.

[ILG]

I think family devotions and prayer are a good idea, but only if the family is on board with it. If not, it could cause damage to try and force something that isn't wanted. My two cents.