(ThyBlackMan.com) Growing up I spent a lot of time learning about God.
My days were filled at my Christian grade school listening to Bible stories and memorizing scriptures. My weekends were equally active with Saturday ministry groups and Sunday morning children’s church service. The conversation about God was always loud as I bounced from church to school; however, the talk decreased to silence once inside my home.
Despite my parent’s best intentions (particularly my mother) to raise my 
brother and me in church, they unwittingly neglected the opportunity to reinforce the core Christian principles we learned inside our home. Our family conversations were vibrant, full of life and laughter; nonetheless, they failed to cover anything of Christian substance.
Many families make the same mistake. So much time and effort is spent on church and hearing the preached Word, yet we fail to fortify and apply the Christian principles we have learned inside our homes. Also, we fall short by not incorporating God into our regular family conversation unless we face moments of crisis or despair. God should be a routine topic of conversation in our households, with prayer serving as the conversation icebreaker.
Prayer is vital to the strength and integrity of a Christian family. With prayer comes power, and through that power, God provides His love, protection and peace that will permeate your household.
I remember dating a young man in college whose family gathered in prayer as he and his siblings prepared to leave for college out state. His parents demonstrated the leadership necessary to bring the family together for prayer; they had the wisdom and foresight to seek out God’s protection and favor over their family. I grew up seeing my mother pray, and I knew she was praying on behalf of our family; however, prayer in our family was an individual act and not a collective one.
When we pray as a family we are blessed with supernatural strength. The type of strength that allows us to body slam the enemy. Prayer has the spiritual power to loosen strongholds over families, bring peace, contentment and joy to households. Prayer will keep your family unified and protected from the enemy.
Why don’t you make the decision to guard and protect your family through the power of prayer?
Today is the day to begin the tradition of placing God first in your household. Get ready to see God work wondrously through your family. God loves you; He loves your family and is ready show up in an amazing way.
Written By Kacie Starr Triplett