Six Months Into Our Journey

Overcoming the Struggles of Family Prayer Time

IIt’s hard to believe we’ve already been on this journey for six months. In the beginning, our kids didn’t want to pray with us. It was a struggle to get everyone to sit down and focus. They thought 30 minutes was too long, and we had to make it clear that this time together was non-negotiable. It wasn’t just about praying—it was about growing in our faith together and, more importantly, ensuring our kids find their own relationship with God.

We quickly realized that we needed to make some adjustments to make this time more effective. The two youngest couldn’t sit together without causing distractions, and the older two were laughing and goofing off. Even something as simple as where they sat turned out to be important! But over time, we’ve settled into a routine that works for us.

We started reading through the New Testament and made it through Matthew, but then felt God leading us to go back to the beginning with Genesis. Reading the Bible with our kids has been such a blessing. I’ve noticed so many details and insights I missed before, and it’s been such a joy to share these discoveries together. I spent 3 days repeating with the kids what He created each day (it is not as easy to remember as I thought)!

Our prayer time now has a little more structure. We begin by asking our kids about their day, and this has made such a difference. They’ve started opening up more, sharing what’s on their hearts. After that, we read a chapter from the Bible, and before we pray, we ask if anyone has something specific they’d like to pray for. This simple shift has deepened our connection as a family and allowed our kids to take ownership of their faith and prayer life.

We’re still learning and growing, but there’s no doubt that God has been working in our hearts—and in the hearts of our children. If you’re a parent wondering whether it’s worth the effort, I can tell you that it absolutely is. Prayer and time in God’s Word are changing our family, and I can’t wait to see where He leads us next.