Why Make Prayer a Family Affair
The McClures’ keys to Spiritual Growth
In a recent interview with Family Life Radio, musicians Paul and Hannah McClure shared their approach to making prayer a central part of their daily lives and their family’s life.
“We have to stay rooted in prayer,” Paul McClure said. For the McClures, it’s about making prayer a continuous conversation with God, not just a checkbox activity or a specific moment in the day.
“We have three kids, and we’re teaching them that prayer doesn’t have to be this checked box thing that we do – like, now we pray for the meal or we pray at night. We’re praying all day long, just talking to Jesus.”
If you’ve ever struggled with making prayer a consistent habit, this approach can be a game-changer.
Instead of seeing prayer as a task to complete, view it as an ongoing dialogue with Jesus, your friend.
Cultivating Awareness of God’s Presence
One of the most striking points Paul made was about the importance of being aware of God’s presence. “I think for us, it’s important to raise the awareness of God’s presence, and that if it’s not that God’s not there, it’s just that we’re unaware of it,” he said.
David proclaims in Psalm 16:8, “I have set the Lord always before me” (KJV).
If you sometimes feel like God is distant, the McClures encourage us to cultivate a constant awareness of His presence. Paul says, “It’s not even being overly spiritual, like I’m a perfect man because I pray all day. It’s like, I just talk to God and I include God.”
Involving the Family in Prayer
If you’re a parent grappling with how to instill a love for prayer in your children, the McClures say to make it a family affair. Let your children see you pray, and invite them into the conversation with God. Hannah shares, “I love listening to our daughter pray because she loves to pray for healing.”
Hannah says they encourage their children to see God as a God of miracles. “We ask God for big things, we ask for miracles,” she said. “We ask God healing; we pray for other people.”
If you’ve been hesitant to ask God for big things, remember that He is a God of miracles.
Your faith can grow exponentially when you see those prayers answered. As Hannah puts it, “It’s not being crazy; it’s just a way of life.”
The McClures’ openness about their faith journey encourages their faith community. The Bible speaks to the importance of community in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together” (ESV).
Sharing your faith journey and prayer habits with others can provide accountability and encouragement.
Prayer should be a natural, integral part of our day. You can foster a genuine relationship with God through prayer. It’s about making that relationship a natural part of your day with your family, and your community.
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