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Susan Alexander Yates

Susan Alexander Yates

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How to Pray the Greatest Prayer for Your Family

by Susan Alexander Yates

Do you ever wonder the best way to pray for your family? Sometimes your family’s needs can be overwhelming, and you may not know how to pray for everyone. I’d love to show you how to use the Lord’s prayer to pray for all your family members. This practice can simplify and focus your prayers — and it’s become so special to me!

It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it, that we have a prayer that Jesus wrote for us?  I treasure this prayer Jesus gave us while teaching His disciples how they should pray.

Do you ever wonder the best way to pray for your family? I'd love to show you how to use the Lord's prayer to pray for all your family members.

Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash.

Two Dangers

Unfortunately, many of us are over-familiar with this prayer, and don’t think of it much beyond reciting it on Sunday mornings. We speak it quickly and we don’t even need the words, it’s so familiar. Our minds wander as we say it. We gallop to the finish. We take it for granted.

The other danger is that many people from non-denominational churches or those who are new to any church may not know the Lord’s prayer at all. It’s rarely found in their worship. They’re not teaching it to their children. They may have heard something about it but they couldn’t tell you what it is or what it says.

Why does it matter?

It matters because the disciples spent nearly 3 years watching Jesus, and one of the things they wanted Him to teach them was how to pray. They observed Jesus praying. He slipped away to be alone to talk with His Father; He begged them to pray with Him in the garden of Gethsemane. Many times, He told them to ask the Father for something. (Matthew 7:7)

Prayer was central in the life of Jesus. It illustrated His intimacy with the Father. His example had an impact on his followers. Paul’s books and letters in the New Testament are full of his personal prayers for his friends. Through his prayers we glimpse humility. Paul knew how needy He was.  

Prayer is a profound sign of humility. We need God. We were made for intimacy with Him.

The Lord’s prayer was Jesus teaching His disciples directly how to pray, saying “Pray then like this.” (Matthew 6:9)

How could this great prayer work in our own personal prayers?

Some time ago I realized this prayer had become simply a repetition for me. Simultaneously I was making a prayer notebook in which I wrote down specific prayers for my family–different ones for each day of the week.

Do you ever wonder the best way to pray for your family? I'd love to show you how to use the Lord's prayer to pray for all your family members.

My prayer journal.

It seemed fitting to begin my week (Monday) with this great prayer. But I wanted to think about the meaning and dwell on the words. I wanted this to be a prayer not only for me but one I could pray for each of my kids. (We have five children, all married so we have ten!)

I began by inserting the initials of John and me, our children, and their spouses in the first section. I added our names repeatedly throughout, and expanded a little on Jesus’s requests as I focused on each section of the prayer.

Here is my personal rendition of the greatest prayer on earth, prayed for my family:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Your kingdom come; your will be done (in Me & JY; AG&WG; JY&AY; CY&CBY; SYA&SA; LW&MW) on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us (repeat names above) this day our daily bread (a sense of your provision, your Holy Spirit, your joy, your presence, your protection, your intervention, your leading).

Forgive us (repeat names) our sins (convict us, make our hearts tender so we would repent) as we forgive those who have sinned against us. (Help us to do this, to grant grace in our marriages.)

Lead us (repeat names) not into temptation (help us to recognize evil and run from it, to call on your power to defeat Satan) but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the KINGDOM

The POWER

And the GLORY

Forever and Ever Amen!*

After using the Lord’s prayer in this way for several years I have grown in my love and appreciation of it. As I slowly say the words, I visualize God the Father and Jesus His Son filled with joy as they put their loving arms around me and listen to me pray this–their very own special prayer.

I encourage you to do the same, to pray this great prayer for everyone in your family by name!

As we pray, may God teach us more about how to pray for our families, and more about His great love for each of us.

*The Lord’s Prayer is found in Matthew 6:9-13. My emphasis is added in italics and parenthesizes.

Looking for more? Check out A Peek at My Personal Prayer Journal.

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Do you ever wonder the best way to pray for your family? I'd love to show you how to use the Lord's prayer to pray for all your family members.

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Hello, I’m Susan.

Susan Alexander Yates

I’m a wife (of more than 50 years), mom to five children (including a set of twins), and grandmother to 21 (including a set of quadruplets!). My favorite time of the year is when all my kids and grandkids are together for a week of “cousins and family camp” in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.

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More of our Family Camp fun from Labor Day weekend More of our Family Camp fun from Labor Day weekend. Such a joy! ⁣
⁣
Be sure to check out the blog for more details and pics. (Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog)⁣
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* Poppy (John) is always happy to get help with the horses and the kids love them.⁣
* There's always a competition of some kind going on! Volleyball, a hula hoop contest, a ping-pong tournament. ⁣
* The "ice cream gutter" is a cherished annual tradition!⁣
* Lots of hanging out, and even some quiet moments, but not a lot of sleep. ⁣
⁣
If you want to host a camp or family event of your own, check out my book Cousin Camp for all kinds of ideas. (Link in bio.)⁣
⁣
#christianmom #christianfamily #grandparent #cousincamp #familycamp
One Word: Mystery One Verse: “To them God ch One Word: 
Mystery 
 
One Verse:
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
 
One Thought:
You are a God of mystery. It’s a glorious mystery. I can’t explain you even though sometimes I want to. Your mystery is part of what makes you so much greater than man. Thank you that you, with all of your glorious mystery, have chosen to dwell in me.
John and I are in Colorado for a week’s vacation John and I are in Colorado for a week’s vacation, still celebrating 54 years of marriage! We had a fun dinner, sharing about folks who have been role models-mentors for us in ministry and family life over these years. It sparked a fun discussion and thankful memories!
We're so grateful we got to host another Family Ca We're so grateful we got to host another Family Camp over Labor Day weekend!⁣
⁣
Here's a peek behind the scenes. I'm sharing all the details (and more pics!) over on the blog, check it out. (Link in bio or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog)⁣
⁣
1 - We had 33 of us this year!⁣
2 - So much prep and shopping. But I never clean before they come because I learned that's futile. 😜⁣
3 - Lots of cousin bonding.⁣
4 - My daughter-in-law @christenbyates, who's a professional artist, set up an art station this year and the kids loved it.⁣
5 - Cousins with their camp journals. (I keep the journals at my house and they get to write in them every year.)⁣
6 - John led a short teaching time every day, this year on Psalm 139.⁣
7 - Meals are crazy when you're cooking for 33 people!⁣
8 - There are shoes everywhere. 😂 ⁣
9 - The kids actually did dinner cleanup this year, without any prompting! ⁣
10 - A few of our guys.💙⁣
⁣
#christianfamily #cousincamp #familycamp #christianmom #grandparent
One Word: Shows One Verse: “But God shows hi One Word:  Shows
 
One Verse:

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
 
One Thought:

If you, God Almighty, would send your son to die for me in my own wickedness, then how much more will you show me how to make the decision I need to make.
Cousin love at Family Camp! These are 2 of our you Cousin love at Family Camp! These are 2 of our youngest grands. (We have 21!)

Catch the blog later this week for details and more pics.
This photo of me and John is from our trip to Isra This photo of me and John is from our trip to Israel last fall. When we first got married, I didn't know what being a pastor's wife would entail. Now after more than 50 years of marriage I understand a little better (although I can always learn more!).⁣
⁣
I'm sharing an interview over on my blog with @thegospelcoalition's Front Row Seat series on Supporting Our Husbands.⁣
⁣
We discussed how pastors’ wives can support and encourage their husbands in ministry, marriage, and life. But so much of this applies to any marriage, whether your husband is a pastor or not.⁣
⁣
Check it out -- link in bio, or go to susanalexanderyates.com/blog⁣
⁣
You might want to share it with your pastor's wife -- it will encourage her!⁣
⁣
@kristen_wetherell  @kario312⁣
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#christianwife  #pastorswife  #christianmarriage
One Word: Founder One Verse: “...let us run One Word:  Founder
 
One Verse:

“...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." Hebrews 12: 1-2
 
One Thought:

You are the author of my faith. You began it, Father. It is yours. I ask you to be perfecting it. Thank you that even this isn't up to me. My part is to fix my eyes on you and let you do your work within me.
This is how we feel right now -- we finished our A This is how we feel right now -- we finished our Annual Family Camp yesterday!

4 days with 33 kids and grands; 19 teens sleeping on floors and outside, 44 bags of trash, 15 gallons of ice cream, 67 dirty towels, 135 ping pong games, 90 individual miles hiking on the AT, gleaning from Psalm 139, 532 tickles and hugs, and 2 exhausted grandparents--who are deliriously grateful!

More pics coming soon.

* numbers are estimates 😆

Copyright © 2023 · Susan Alexander Yates · All Rights Reserved
Calligraphy by Jessica Blanchard · Paintings by Christen Yates
Blog and Ask Susan Photo by Natalie Puls Photography · Books Photo by Cambria Elizabeth

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