I try to pray for my wife and myself and our family on a regular basis. And I have found the pattern Jesus gave us in “The Lord’s Prayer,” as it is called, helps me focus and stay on track in my prayers. I don’t do it legalistically, but I have found it to be a wonderful guide for me. Hopefully it will help you as well. First of all, here is what many have titled “The Lord’s Prayer”:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:9-13
Here is how I use this for prayer for our family:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.” (9)
When we start with this we acknowledge that God is our Father, our loving Father who cares about us and our family deeply. He has adopted us as his own children through Jesus and as our Father he hears our prayers. He has a family that he cares deeply about, so I know he cares for my family. I don’t always start with this, but when I do it encourages my faith to bring my cares to him.
“Hallowed by your name”, or “Holy is your name.” When we pray this we acknowledge that our Father is infinitely holy and righteous and pure. In a sense, we bow before God. We humble ourselves before his holiness and glory and power. We take a moment to think about whom we are praying to.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. (10)
God’s kingdom is his rule, specifically his spiritual rule. Although he is King over the whole universe and the earth, through Jesus the King, God brings his rule into our lives when he saves us. I ask the Lord to bring his rule into the lives of every one of our children, our grandchildren and descendants, and save every single one until Jesus returns.
Often I will pray one of the many promises for parents God has spoken in his word. Like:
The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before you. Psalm 102:28
“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.” Isaiah 59:21
Praise the LORD!
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed. Psalm 112:1-2
And there are many more promises of God to save our offspring. So I pray that the Lord will save every one of our children and descendants until he returns.
I also ask the Lord, as part of bringing his kingdom rule into our lives, that Kristi and I and all our descendants would know him, love him, delight in him and his word, and that we would lead lives worthy of the gospel, and bear much fruit for him.
Give us this day our daily bread (11)
I try to remember to thank the Lord for how abundantly he has always provided for us and our children. I ask him to provide for our needs. I might ask him to provide the money for Kristi and I to travel to visit our children and grandchildren in other states. I ask him for any needs we have and ask our generous Father to provide for all our children.
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. (12)
I ask the Lord to forgive our sins. To forgive my sins and Kristi’s as well as to forgive our children. If there is anyone I feel I need to forgive, I do so. I ask the Lord to help our children forgive anyone who has sinned against them.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. (13)
First, I ask the Lord to deliver me from all temptation and sin. I want to fear the Lord, for I know I am capable of any sin. I ask for him to deliver me from certain specific temptations as well. I ask the Lord to deliver Kristi and our children and descendants from temptation and sin. If there are specific ways I know my children may be being tempted or things they are struggling with I mention those to the Lord. I pray that the Lord will deliver us from all the lies of the enemy.
deliver us from evil. (13)
I also ask the Lord to deliver us from sickness, disease and any other forms of evil we face. Sickness is evil. I pray for healing for our children and grandchildren who need healing.
This is how I use the Lord’s prayer to guide me in my prayers for my family. I might not always use this pattern. Sometimes I just cast my cares on him as he invites us to do in 1 Peter:
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
Often I try to begin my prayer time with thanksgiving as well for God has said:
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalm 100:4
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Hope this encourages you to pray for your family. And remember, God loves your children and grandchildren far more than you do, and he desires these things for you and your descendants even more than you do. We serve a wonderful, generous, gracious, loving God who has abundant blessings stored up for us and is just waiting to pour them out on us:
Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! Psalm 31:19
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