Why should we pray with our family in the morning? Is there a morning prayer for family time that I can follow in the morning?
Let’s answer the why first. Why should we pray with our families in the morning? Because it starts our days off with committing and acknowledging what should come first, and that’s Christ. By starting our mornings off with prayer we are teaching our children where our priorities lie.
So, now the question is, what type of morning prayer routine should we follow?
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How Should We Pray as a Family?
There is no right or wrong way to talk to God. As we model to our children what prayer should look like, we should model a routine that points them to daily communication with their creator.
Establish the importance of prayer in your family, not necessarily a perfect way to do it.
An excellent resource on prayer for kids is called “What Every Child Should Know about Prayer,” by Nancy Guthrie.
But how should we pray as a family? The nice thing about family prayer is that it is really up to you! Learn what works for your family culture and implement a routine. It does not have to be perfect, and if you get out of the routine, then just pick it back up!
Why Should I Pray with My Family in the Morning?
Besides the consistency aspect and the ability to establish the importance of prayer in your family, is there any biblical basis for establishing morning prayers for the family?
Morning prayer can lead to a variety of other routines like family faith talks, family devotionals, or family worship time. All of which are good practices to establish in your family dynamics.
The Bible often speaks to the significance of starting the morning with praise or prayer.
A great example to follow is Jesus himself who often rose in the morning to spend time with his heavenly Father.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
Mark 1:35 ESV
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
Psalm 143:8 ESV
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
Pray with your family in the morning because it is a good practice and models fruitful biblical behaviors.
More resources for cultivating a morning routine can be found in my morning routine vault of resources. Download and start using it today!
Short Powerful Morning Prayer for Family
Here are some short and powerful examples of morning prayer for families.
Dear father, thank you for allowing us all to rest and thank you that we all woke up this morning refreshed and ready to glorify you. As a family, we put our trust in you and ask for your will to be done in our lives. We ask for your sovereign hand of guidance in our direction today. Amen.
Thank you Father God for sustaining our entire family throughout the night. You are truly a wonderful and great God. Thank you for this day and teach us to choose your way today instead of ours. Thank you that yesterday is gone and today is a new day filled with your mercies. Amen.
Morning Prayer Bible Verses
Remember that your morning prayer routine is different than your family devotional or worship time.
Morning prayer should and can be incorporated into either of those family experiences, but morning prayers for the family can also work independently from any organized time.
Prayer in the morning before work or school can be short and simple. However, adding some morning scriptures never hurts!
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
Psalm 59:16
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:11-13
Morning Prayers of Thanksgiving and Praise
An excellent aspect to add to morning prayers for the family is thanksgiving and praise! Practicing intentional gratitude in your family is a beautiful way to set your children on a trajectory of understanding their unique blessings.
There are many ways to express gratitude as a family. Simply saying what you are grateful is the simplest way, but there are also routines like thanksgiving prayer journals or these gratitude note cards that can be a fun edition.
I personally like the gratitude note cards because they can be set out and used in a variety of ways. They are also easy to store and look back at when perhaps life becomes a bit tougher. Children also love coloring them!
Praying for your Family in the Morning
Do you pray with your family in the morning? It’s never too early or late to start. And once you get going it’s never ineffective to start again if you drop the ball. Consider starting today and add morning prayers to your families routine.