Scripture Reading:
Psalm 100, Psalm 128
Reflections of the Heart:
FAMILY n. pl. families is one of life’s greatest blessings, a group of persons sharing a common ancestry and a group of people who will love and support each other through the good times as well as the bad.
Scriptural Prayer:
Awesome Father, our souls honor You. We thank You for thinking of us enough to give us dominion in the earth. Thank You for our family relationships. We thank You for singlehood, the institution of marriage and parenthood. Lord, we thank You for fulfilling Your plans and purposes in our lives. Thank You for blessing us continually with Your loving-kindness and tender mercies. Your mercy endures forever. We give You thanks, O Lord, with all our hearts. We will sing Your praises. We will bow before Your holy Temple as we worship. We praise Your Name for Your unfailing love and faithfulness, for Your promises are backed by all the honor of Your Name. As soon as we pray, You answer us. You encourage us by giving us strength.
Glorious Father, it is Your will that we prosper and be in health as our souls prosper. Therefore, we declare that our families will live in peaceful habitations, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting places. Those who listen for Your instruction will find favor and joyfulness. We confess that the paths to loving family relationships, quality education, property ownership, employment, entrepreneurship and societal engagement that honors God will be affirmed in their lives. We declare that doors of opportunity will be opened to make room for their gifts as they trust in the Lord. Father, our families will hold fast to the confession of our faith without wavering. The love of God will reign supreme in our homes, and the peace of God will be an umpire in our family relationships.
Holy Spirit, show me which family member(s) for whom I should specifically pray:
Holy Spirit, we ask that You give our family members one heart and put a new spirit within all of us. Where there are strained relationships in our families, please turn hearts back to one another. Lord, please begin to heal the wounds that family secrets have inflicted on the souls and minds of some of our family members. Lead them to competent Christian counseling to help them process their pain. Give us Your wisdom. Let discretion preserve us and understanding keep us from the way of evil. Please unite our families. Father, establish and maintain the lines of communication in our homes so that there is good rapport one to another. Please keep our children and youth as the apples of Your eye and hide them under the shadow of Your wings. Let Your peace, love and understanding reside in our families.
Merciful Father, please forgive our families for all acts of sinfulness. Forgive us for allowing other responsibilities and interests such as hobbies, sports, jobs, social media, extreme usage of cell phones, and community obligations to have greater priority over our families. Forgive us for at times taking our loved ones for granted and for lacking direct interpersonal communication with them. Forgive us for not praying for our families consistently. Forgive us for strife, anger, envy, jealousy, idolatry, adultery and for verbal or physical abuse within our homes. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that you have committed). Holy Spirit, remind our families of those we need to forgive and help us to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He reveals them, say “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help our families not to yield to temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
Sovereign Lord, there is none like You. You are great and Your Name is full of power. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours. This is Your Kingdom. We adore You as the one who is over all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text: Psalm 5:12 (NKJV), Psalm 136:1, Psalm 138:1-3, III John 2 (NKJV), Isaiah 32:18, Isaiah 54:17, Genesis 50:20, Hebrews 10:23, Ezekiel 11:19, Proverbs 2:12, Psalm 17:8 NKJV, Matthew 6:13, Jeremiah 10:6, I Chronicles 29:11