How To Pray For Families

There is a scripture from the Old Testament I have been using as a point of prayer. Malachi was the last prophet who spoke for God in the Old Testament period. The next 400 years were a period of silence. No prophet spoke and no angel visited Israel. Malachi prophesied about a coming day when the preaching of God’s messenger would “turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” For years, I have prayed for families, specifically fathers and parents, from this passage. I believe that Malachi’s prophesy reveals the heart of God towards families. God desires that the hearts of fathers and mothers turn towards their children and the hearts of children towards their parents. The health of a family is affected by the hearts the parents have towards each other and towards their children. Family health is also affected by the children’s hearts towards their parents. When family members no longer have a heart for each other, the family can’t help but be dysfunctional. When fracturing occurs, people no longer talk to each other, or care about the welfare of their family members. The complexity of individuals makes family relationships complicated. People disappoint each other, say unkind things, and make assumptions and judgements. Every new person that is added to the family adds to the complication. They each have unique personalities. Each family member has their own hurts, history, unforgiveness, and repeated offenses. The diversity compounds the complexity. The answer to fractured families and broken relationships is found in “turn the hearts.” The Apostle Paul described the attributes of love in 1 Corinthians 13. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT) The love Paul describes is the love of Malachi’s “turned hearts” and the first place it should be found is in families. This Father’s Day weekend, would you join me and pray for families across our country? Pray that God will turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the hearts of children towards their parents. If you and I pray, our hearts will be changed and the “turning” could begin with us.