Household Prayer

Week 3 – Pray in Community

Learning to Pray Together

Prayer Practice: Household Prayer

Day 18, Wednesday, January 21

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
—Joshua 24:15

In some ways, prayer naturally begins in the home before it extends out of it. Finding rhythms of prayer for you and your family can be an enormous blessing for your home. It’s often said that children emulate the faith they see in their parents - the more they see prayer, the more they’ll know it’s an crucial part of their faith.

If you don’t live with others, you can still practice “household” prayer by recognizing that the New Testament “home” always extended beyond one’s immediate family. In fact, as Christians we are all part of the family of God. Calling a close friend in the faith and having prayer together or texting prayers to and for one another could be a simple way to experience “household prayers.”

If you live with others, you might:

• Pray briefly before a meal

• Offer a short prayer before bed

• Ask, “How can I pray for you today?”

If you live alone, you might:

• Set aside a consistent time to pray with a friend or group

• Start an email or text prayer thread

• Practice prayer intentionally with your spiritual family

Household prayer doesn’t need to be formal or long. Like all formation, it grows through consistency and example.

Gentle Reminder

Faith is shaped slowly and often quietly. When prayer is practiced where life is shared—whether with family, friends, or the family of God—it teaches those around us that prayer is not an extra part of faith, but a normal one.