Prayer to Fulfill God’s Purpose for My Family
Where to from Here?
One approach is for modern families to become productive households through enterprises like farms, trades, and small businesses. But even if we can’t change the basic shape of our work life, we can take steps to become a family with a shared mission in the world.
First, we can see the times when our family sits down to eat, talk, read the Bible, and pray as preparation for getting up and doing mission together. To quote N. D. Wilson, face-to-face family time is simply the “huddle” before our team runs out onto the field.
When we rise, we can work together in the world by:
- Growing something in the garden
- Making something useful by hand
- Cooking a meal
- Doing housework: wash the car, weed the garden
- Inviting someone over and showing hospitality
- Visiting an elderly relative or neighbor
- Cleaning up litter from your street or community park
- Volunteering at a shelter or mission
- Committing to worship together every Sunday
- Serving at church: put your whole family on a roster
Let’s make every effort to build strong families not just by being together, but by doing something together for the glory of God, the good of his world, and the spread of his gospel. When people see our families living out their God-given mission, may they catch a glimpse of “the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name” (Eph. 3:15).