Scripture declares that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective (James 5:16), and prayers for your family can have a powerful impact on your household. Do you sometimes worry about your family and their well-being in today’s uncertain world? If you desire for you and your family to be fervent followers of Jesus, your prayers for your family never fall on deaf ears.
The Lord hears our earnest prayers, and desires for our families to be powerful lights in a dark world, and a godly influence for our culture today. Here are five ways you can pray for your family using the beautiful example of Lydia from Acts 16:11-15.
1. Pray for your Family with Others
In a missionary trip to the Roman colony of Philippi, the apostle Paul, Silas and Luke (Luke is the writer of the book of Acts) found Lydia and a group of women at a prayer meeting by a nearby river. They then sat down and began speaking to the women.
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.
Acts 16:14
Luke recounts the powerful story of Lydia and the amazing impact she had on her family through her faith. She was an influential business woman as a dealer in purple cloth (Acts 16:12). Though she was a busy business woman, she was also a woman of faith–and made time for prayer.
When we pray for our families, we can definitely gather and pray with other women. There is great comfort and encouragement when we have a small group of women we can trust to share our prayer requests regarding our families and our lives.
Lydia displayed her faith in God by gathering with these women in prayer. Though we live in a world right now where it is difficult to meet in small groups, we can form virtual prayer groups through Facebook or Zoom. Now more than ever, we as women of faith can rally around one another and pray for one another and our families.
2. Offer Prayers for your Family as a Worshiper of God
Acts 16:14 says that Lydia was a worshiper of God. When we offer our prayers to God with a heart of worship, we can pray powerful prayers for our families. When you pray for your family, consider opening your heart to God first through worship. Find a quiet place in your home. Try to rise early in the morning before your family does. Play soft worship music, and prepare your heart to worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness (Psalm 96:9).
Lisa from Graceful Abandon has a great playlist of worship songs for spending time with God in the mornings. When our hearts are in tune with the Holy Spirit through worship, we can pray powerful prayers of impact for our families and our communities!
3. Offer Prayers for your Family with an Open Heart
Luke made sure to mention in Acts 16:14 that Lydia attentively listened to the words of Paul as they sat by the river, and that she opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. Even as a devout woman of faith, she continued to have an open heart and mind to hear the words spoken to her through the Apostle Paul.
Through her open heart and attentive mind, the Lord was able to speak to her in a powerful way. She was so impacted by God’s message that she and her household were baptized (Acts 16:15). This is a powerful example of a woman of faith and influence!
We as women in our homes have the powerful opportunity to be a godly witness and example to our families. When we pray fervently for our families, they should see a transformation in our own hearts and minds.
Do our children see us praying and reading the Bible? Do they see us attentively listening to Christian podcasts, sermons, and actively serving in our church communities? Karin from Renovated Faith has a great list of Christian podcasts for women as we seek to go deeper in our faith.
These are all ways we can powerfully impact our children and their faith. We never know who is watching or what our families will imitate. As you pray for your family, continue to have an open heart to receive God’s message through his Word on a regular basis.
4. Pray to be a Woman of Influence and Hospitality
As soon as Lydia and her family were baptized, she invited Paul, Silas, and Luke to her home.
When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:15
Why was Lydia so eager to invite Paul and his missionary team into her home? She was overjoyed by the spiritual transformation she experienced, and wanted to express her gratitude and appreciation by showing grace and hospitality. When we open our homes to others, we have the powerful opportunity to minister them.
Though it may be difficult to open our homes during the current pandemic, we can continue to have a spirit of hospitality and kindness towards others by reaching out through cards, social media, and even with a simple phone call. These are ways we can express our appreciation and love to those who have had an impact on our lives, and we can in turn impact the lives of our families.
5. Pray to be a Proverbs 31 Woman
Lydia is a true example of a New Testament Proverbs 31 Woman.
She was a woman of faith. A woman of prayer. A business woman. A woman of influence in her community and in her household. We can learn much from Lydia’s example as we pray and intercede for our own families. Not only was Lydia a dealer of purple cloth like the Proverbs 31 Woman (Proverbs 31:22, 24-26), but she was clothed with strength and dignity. She allowed the garments of God’s grace and splendor to impact her life and the lives of those around her!
Allow the example of Lydia’s faith and enthusiasm for God’s kingdom to propel you forward as you become a woman of faith and powerfully impact your family. As you pray for your family each day, remember the influence and example of Lydia.
Free Prayer Printable
Feel free to download this family prayer that you can place in your home to remind you of how to pray for your family with power and fervor!
Download the prayer printable HERE.
In Conclusion
As we reflect on the life of Lydia, here are some powerful takeaways.
When we pray for our families we can:
- Become a woman of prayer.
- Pray and intercede in the company of godly women.
- Become a woman of worship.
- Listen intently to the messages of trusted church leaders.
- Open our hearts to God’s message through his Word.
These are powerful ways we can impact our families as we pray for them each day!
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Thanks so much for reminding me again all that i forgot
We all definitely need reminders! Thanks for visiting!