Family Prayer: How to Pray Together at Home
"As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15) The habits your children see at home are the ones they're most likely to carry with them.
Why pray as a family
God told Israel to talk about His words "when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:7). Faith was meant to be part of ordinary family life, not saved for Sunday. Praying together teaches children that God is near, that His people bring everything to Him, and that home is a safe place to be honest.
Start at the table
Mealtime is the easiest place to begin, because you're already together. Hold hands. Take turns saying grace, and add one more thing: something each person is thankful for today. Little ones can repeat a short line after you.
Bedtime prayer
Bedtime is when children open up. Ask two questions: "What was the best part of your day?" and "Is anything worrying you?" Then pray about both, out loud and by name. Close with a blessing such as Numbers 6:24-26:
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
A weekly family prayer time
Once a week, take fifteen minutes:
- Read one verse together. The May calendar is full of verses for the home.
- Share requests. Write them on a family prayer list (there's one in the Prayer Toolkit).
- Pray around the circle. Everyone prays for the person on their right.
- Look back at last week's list and celebrate answers.
Ideas by age
- Ages 3 to 6: short repeat-after-me prayers, coloring a picture of what they're thankful for, and a simple memory verse.
- Ages 7 to 12: let them lead grace, keep their own prayer list, and pair prayer with a short devotional.
- Teens: ask what they'd like prayer for, pray for them out loud, and give them room to pray in their own words.
For children, our books and gifts include Mrs. Ant's Consider Her Ways and the Color & Grow with Mrs. Ant coloring devotionals, made for exactly this kind of family time.
Questions people ask
How do I start family prayer if we've never done it?
Start at a meal you already share. Hold hands and let one person thank God for the food and one thing from the day. Keep it under a minute at first.
How do I get teenagers to pray with the family?
Keep it short, keep it real, and don't force it. Ask for their prayer requests and pray for them out loud; many teens join in once it feels normal rather than staged.
What if my spouse doesn't want to pray together?
Pray for your family on your own, and lead gently by example with the children. Invite, don't pressure.
