1.The duty to do good, Galatians 6:10: "As much as you have opportunity, do good to all men, especially those of the household of faith". Do you think praying with other people is a "good" thing? Of course it is! But, with most people, you don't have the "opportunity" to do that. But you have it with your family. And so, why not use the opportunity for "good"?

2.The duty to make the best use of your time, Ephesians 5:16: "Redeeming the time". You spend some time with your family. And much of it is well spent, I'm sure. But wouldn't praying together be better than some things you do? If so, you're obliged to do it.

3.The duty to love, John 15:12: "This is My commandment, that you love one another". Isn't praying together an act of love? Sure it is. Thus, you should be doing it.

4.The duty to encourage, Hebrews 10:24, "Let us provoke one another to love and good works". Don't you think praying together would have a positive effect on members of your family? Of course it would. So why not do it?

5.The duty to set a good example, Philippians 3:17,"Mark those who so walk as you have us for an example. Would you like other members of your family to pray together? What parent wouldn't be thrilled to see his kids sneak off for a prayer meeting? Well, if you want others to pray together, why don't you set the example?

6.The duty to feel your dependence on God. We always depend on God, but we don't always feel that dependence. Doesn't the Lord want us to do that? Yes He does. And what better way to enhance that feeling than by praying together? (cf. Psalm 127:1)

1.Your time could be better spent?

2.It's not consistent with love?

3.Your kids might learn to trust the Lord too much?

1.A sharper prayer life. Praying with others helps you stay focused. I don't know about you, but my private prayers are often so confused I wonder if God can figure them out!

2.A quieter home life. It's hard to lash out at someone you just prayed with. Prayer has a way of reducing tension and fostering a spirit of patience and sympathy.

3.A better marriage. Bowing your heads at the same time won't help your marriage. But praying from the heart will. How? If you're not a terrible hypocrite, it will force you to:

4.A better relationship with your kids. What do children most resent about their parents? Hypocrisy. You commit plenty of sins; your children see them. Why not let them hear you confess those sins to the Lord?

5.A godlier home life must result from praying with your family. "If you are risen with Christ, set your mind on things above, not on things below".

1.A lack of private prayer. If you don't pray much alone, you won't pray much with your family. If for no other reason, it won't occur to you. If this your problem, I urge you to become more disciplined in your private prayers--and to plead with God for a "Spirit of grace and supplication". When you're with the Lord a lot yourself, you won't feel awkward in asking others to join you.

2.An excess of entertainment. The time you might spend in prayer or godly conversation is eaten up by the TV or the Internet or the stereo or the radio or something else. These things are not wrong in themselves. But when you don't pray because of them, they become wrong, cf. Isaiah 5:11-12.

3.Self-centeredness. I'm afraid to say that many families are families in name only. What they really are is roommates. Five people, let's say, each with his own agenda, and no interest in the family itself. Why don't Dad and Susan pray? Because when he's home, she's at piano lessons and when she's home, he's watching the game. But Mom can pray with her, right? No, because when Susan's home, Mom is shuttling the boys to soccer practice! Philippians 2:4: "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others".

4.General ungodliness. It's hard to pray with your wife if you're bitter. It's hard to pray with your husband if you don't respect him. It's hard to pray with your kids if they're disobedient. It's hard to pray with your parents if they're provoking you all the time. What keeping you from praying together? Ungodliness. Repent of that and you'll pray together.

1.Talk to each other. Find out what's going on at your husband's job. Find out what's happening at school with your kids. It's hard to pray for others without knowing them. Get to know each other.

2.When someone tells you his problem, pray about it--right then! Or when something good happens to him, thank God for it--right then! If you've got time to say, "I aced that test", you've also got time to bless the Lord.

3.Be quicker to pray than to criticize or to scold or even to advise. If your son comes home with a bad report card, start with prayer rather than a lecture!

4.Use your time in the car! The modern mother spends half her time, it seems, driving the kids around. Why not spend that otherwise idle time, praying with each other?

5.If possible, conduct family worship. Set a few minutes aside each night to worship the Lord.

6.Look and pray for opportunities to pray with your family, cf. James 4:2; Proverbs 10:24b.