DEVOTION / Pray like this for your family

You, LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, have whispered into the ear of your servant, saying, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore, your servant has found the heart to pray to you this prayer. Now, LORD God, you are God. Your words are truth. You have promised this good thing to your servant. Now, therefore, please bless the house of your servant, so that it will endure forever in your presence. For you, LORD God, have spoken. With your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever (2 Samuel 7:27-29 EHV).

David offers an excellent example of how to pray for our families.

We pray because of God's promises to us

We pray based on God's promises to us. We can depend on his promises because his words are truth. The Lord promised David that his descendants would form a long-term dynasty. The Lord has promised that through his Son we are part of his eternal dynasty. God has “promised this good thing to your servant.“ Therefore, [we who are also God's servants have] found the heart to pray to you this prayer.

We pray because of the one who hears our prayers

We pray because the one hearing our prayers loves, forgives, and adopts us. He is the LORD God; he is Yahweh, the God of full, free, faithful, and forever grace.

We pray for our current and future families. We pray that future generations will endure forever in your presence. Prayers for our family's protection and prosperity are proper. But prayers for our family's eternal well-being outweigh any request we might make of God.

We pray because God will act on our prayers

We pray trusting that God will act on our prayers. Because of Jesus, we are confident that with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever. Our prayers for our family are never a fond wish. They are backed by the steadfast promises of God. The resurrected Jesus has proven that. You may ask me for anything in my name, he promises, and I will do it (John 14:14).