Alfred-Lord-Tennyson-Quote-For-Kim-Butts

Devote Yourselves to Faithful Prayer

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2).

When we have thankful hearts, and minds that are alert (watchful) to the enemy’s schemes, we will be better able to maintain the faithful practice of prayer. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Your family can determine to obey this command by setting aside time each day to pray individually and together. The Father will reward your faithfulness. If this time is difficult to find, sit down together and plan what activities are taking away opportunities to spend time in prayer together. It may only take a few minor adjustments to find a segment of time to pray together daily. Perhaps all it will take is to turn off the television or give up excess time at the computer, etc. Talk about what being devoted means. Ask yourselves if you are more devoted to other activities than to prayer. Determine to change your priorities if this is the case.

Awesome Lord, my busy life often gets in the way of faithfulness in my prayer life. Help me to see prayer as a natural part of every aspect of my everyday life so that intercession becomes like breathing to me. Give our family a deep desire to devote ourselves to prayer.

–Adapted from the article Living for God in the Last Days by Kim Butts, author of The Praying Family (Creative Ways to Pray Together)
Prayer Points

Praise God for his faithfulness in calling you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:9). Thank God for the privilege of being his adopted child. Confess those times when you’ve foolishly acted like an orphan rather than as one of God’s own children. Commit yourself to strengthening the fellowship you enjoy with Christ and with other Christians. Ask God to reveal to you anything that might hinder your fellowship with Christ.

Pray for a close and loving bond to grow between the members of your immediate family. Ask that this bond will be rooted only in Christ Jesus.

–Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2013 is published by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe free at connection.harvestprayer.com Click the link to read the entire article: Living for God in the Last Days (God’s Prayer Plan for the Family) by Kim Butts

ACTION STEP:
Allow your children to see and hear you praying in the morning and at night.
Teach them to say a prayer in the morning before they attend school.
Pray with them in the morning before they attend go.
Set a time to pray with them in family prayer at least 3 times a week for at least 10 minutes and then work to more days and time if you are just beginning to start faithful family prayer. Linda Fegins.