Pray for Family & Relationships: Love Your Family, Lead Them to God

Meditate On It

1. What is Moses teaching the Israelites about? What does it mean that “the LORD is our God”? that “the LORD is one” (v4)?

2. In what aspects of life are people called to love God invv5-6?

3. After growing in love towards the LORD, what then does God command them to do (vv7-9)?

4. According to the proceeding section in verses 10-12, what does God warn them about?

Apply It

The Shema found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is a great pattern for personal and family prayers.

1. I can start by reflecting on who God is (His attributes) and on what God has done in my life (His actions). In response to His faithfulness, I give thanks. Take turns among family and loved ones to thank God for one thing each.

2. As I claim that the LORD God is One and the only true God, in what way can I obey Him this week? Is there something I am neglecting to do in my family and relationships? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any area of life that needs to be modified and modeled rightly before others for God’s glory.

3. In what way can I best express my love for God in the way that I love others? By faith, I will lead and love my family and loved ones through…

Set Simple, Measurable, Appropriate, Realistic, Time-bound (SMART) commitments

Example: “Rather than be on my mobile device or watching TV, I will choose to invest time in conversation with my spouse and children at family meals starting this week.”

Pray It

Ask God to use you as a channel of His love to your relatives and family members:

• To be a more Christ-like family member, spouse, parent, child, etc..
• To shepherd our families and our homes in the ways of the Lord.
• To be filled with the Holy Spirit to exhibit the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
• To glorify and praise God in all things, even through the often challenging relationships in our families.

Let us confess our tendency to take our families for granted, to ignore conflicts or relational tensions, as well as our unforgiveness towards those who have hurt us, especially in our families.

Take the opportunity to pray with your family: encourage one another and appreciate each other’s good qualities and actions. Take time to ask one another: “how can I improve?” then pray for each other.