Thanks for meeting us at the prayer circle.
A member of a church mission committee posed this question to a couple who were being examined for possible support. After an awkward pause, the husband replied, “We both pray, but we do not pray together.” They are not alone. Many Christian couples, including pastors and veteran missionaries, do not pray together. 9 out of 10 Americans say they pray, but only about 14% pray together with their family, close friends, or their church.
Justin and Danielle, the couple in our latest Prayer Circle video, are starting out on the right foot with their children and with each other. Of all the things we could advise for family love and oneness, it would be to agree together in prayer about God’s truth concerning marriage, family, and life. This, of course, requires humility in both parties. If there is an offense between couples—a hidden hurt—they will be hesitant to meet with God and each other to agree about anything. Also, if there is unbelief, they won’t pray together. An unwillingness to believe God about life and life transformation will remove hope and squelch prayer.
In our conversation with Justin and Danielle, we discussed three things:
1. Justin was leading in his protective role as a husband and a father.
2. Danielle felt secure as a wife and mother.
3. The children were experiencing a pattern that showed them the way to handle life. Someone once said, “Home is the place where life makes up its mind.” When parents pray together, kids get the idea and the freedom to make prayer the way to live day by day.
The main reason we must pray together is to unite under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture is clear that God is the head of Jesus, Jesus is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman. (I Corinthians 11:3) Clearly Jesus is the head of our homes and needs to be the “constant consultant” in all of our affairs.
God’s instruction to Israel about the home was definitive.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”(Deuteronomy 6:4-7)
A successful home starts with a covenant love relationship with God, is regulated by the truth of God’s Word, which is then applied to every area of life, and nurtured by meaningful conversations during the natural pauses of home life.
When a couple or family meet for sincere prayer, here’s what they are saying:
1. “Lord, we love You and want to be with You.”
2. “Lord, we are totally dependent on You for everything.”
3. “Lord, we know preeminence belongs to You.”
4. “Lord, You are the Head of our home.”
5. “Lord, bring us into harmony with you and each other.
Many other things could be added here, but the truth is clear. Living and praying together under Christ’s authority places us under His umbrella of safety and provides His power and grace. A safe home, satisfied with Jesus, brings God great glory and brings the people great blessing.
If you would like to step out in faith and allow Christ to be the Head of your marriage and your family, we pray that our resource, Covenant of Loyal Love, will help you.
Joe Humrichous is the executive director of Paradigm One and Bible Prayer Fellowship. The message of the sufficiency of Christ for both the pastor and the local church was birthed during a time of brokenness in his early ministry. Now after 50 years in ministry, Joe is passionate to share this reality as it applies to corporate prayer and church leadership. He recently served as a pastor at First Baptist Church in Covington, Indiana. He and his wife Teresa have 5 children and 13 grandchildren.
