A blended family is the combination of two families. As the families blend, there is a new family structure that can be difficult to navigate for all involved. It is often challenging for parents and children alike. Many steps should be taken during the blending process to prepare for the changes that are about to take place. After a few months or years of blending families, communication issues can creep up, alienating a child from one parent or both parents from each other. more on what the bible says about blended families
If you’ve noticed, I didn’t mention my “formal” title of pastor throughout the article. Now, if you were to visit my church app on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch (yep, we’re there too!), or go to our website and see a picture of me in robes, it might become readily apparent that I have flexible beliefs on “required attire.” But if you’re here reading this because you Googled “prayer for blended families,” then you already know that.
Blended families bring a whole lot of potential for engaging in conflict. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to help reduce conflict. Relationships take time and effort to develop, but these simple steps can improve family relationships as well as general life satisfaction. What’s more, they make us better people.
Prayer For Blended Family
Matthew 22:39-40 (NIV)
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
James 4:8 (NIV)
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
1 Corinthians 10:24-33
“No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
25 If anyone makes the mistake of thinking that he can harm God’s temple, that person will be destroyed by God. 26 The temple of God is holy; you are that temple. The Spirit of God lives in you.
27 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”
28 “Come to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.”
“So whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.” (Matthew 7:12)
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:7)
“But let all things be done decently and in order.” (I Corinthians 14:40)
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” (Ephesians 2:19-20)
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works:” (Hebrews 10:24)
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” -James 3:14-16
“Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”” -1 Corinthians 15:33
“If you want to be a follower of mine, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.” -Luke 14:26
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry”” -Galatians 5:19-21
Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Matthew 5:23-24
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Dear God,
I come to you with a prayer for my blended family. I pray that you will guide us and protect us from harm, and keep us safe from all danger. I pray that you will give us the strength to do what is right, and the courage to do what is necessary. Amen
Dear Lord,
We thank you for the blessing of our blended family. We know that our children will be better people because of the love and support they have from their step-parents and step-siblings. We pray that you would continue to bless them all with your love, grace, and mercy. Please help us to remember that we are not alone in this process, but rather part of a larger family who is equally imperfect and equally loved by you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen
Dear God,
We thank you for the blended family we have. We know it’s not easy. We know that we don’t always get along and that things can be hard when there are different expectations and different traditions. But we also know that you have a plan for our family, and we’re so grateful for it. We know that if we work together to love each other as best as we can, and if we keep our relationship with you at the center of all of it, then everything else will fall into place.
Why Pray For The Family
There are many reasons to pray for the family. One of them is because it is a spiritual discipline that helps you grow in your faith and relationship with God. Another reason is because Jesus asked us to pray for each other.
As Catholics, we believe that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us. In other words, Jesus prays for us. That’s why we ask Him to be our mediator with the Father (1 Timothy 2:5).
Praying for someone else involves asking God on their behalf. It also involves listening for what God wants to say through prayer about that person or situation. Praying for others can help you better understand what they need so that you can help them more effectively when they need it most.#ENDWRITE
Why pray for the family?
Our families are the first and most influential socializing agents in our lives. Because of this, we need to be intentional about raising our children in a way that will encourage them to grow into healthy, productive members of society.
Praying for my family is something I do every day. Some days it’s out of desperation or concern; other days it’s out of thanksgiving and joy. Sometimes it’s just because I love them.
For example, whenever one of my children is going through a difficult time — whether it be an illness or a life event — I pray for them constantly. I ask God to give me the words to say to comfort them or guide me in how best to help them through their struggle.
The Bible says that God knows each one of us intimately (see Psalm 139:1-6). If He knows us that well — including our hearts and minds as well as our bodies — then there’s no question that He knows how best to help us when we’re going through hard times in life. And so I pray for Him to guide me in knowing what would be best for my family during those times when they need guidance most.
The family is under attack.
Our nation’s leaders are attacking it through their policies and the media is attacking it through their entertainment.
The family is the foundation of our society and if we do not pray for our families, they will crumble down like David’s house in Psalm 102:25.
Praying for your family is serious business.
Your prayer life is your most important ministry. It’s where you get to communicate with God, and it’s where you get to hear from Him.
That’s why I believe that when we pray for our families, we’re not just asking God to bless our loved ones; we are also asking God to use us as instruments of His blessing.
But here’s the thing: Prayer isn’t supposed to be a one-way conversation — especially when it comes to praying for your family. If you want your family members to experience the blessings of God, then you have to be willing to do what it takes so that they can experience those blessings in their own lives.
So how can we do this? Well, there are three things that we must remember when praying for our families:
1) Pray for their spiritual growth and development
2) Pray for them in ways that will foster their growth and development as followers of Christ
3) Pray for them in ways that will bring glory and honor to God
Prayer is a way we can communicate with God, to ask for His help and guidance. God is always ready to listen to our concerns and answer our prayer requests. Prayer is also important because it helps us focus on what really matters in life.
The Bible says, “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men!” (James 1:2)
Prayer is a two-way conversation between God and us. We speak our needs and concerns to God, and He hears us and answers us.
Jesus taught us how to pray when He said, “Our Father in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9) The word “father” means that we are adopted into His family through Jesus Christ — if you believe in Him as your Savior!
We tend to think of prayer, and rightly so, as communion with God, with the spiritual connection and benefits it entails. But when we pray with other people—especially with our spouse, parents, or children—it can also be a special form of communion with one another. While it’s difficult, if not impossible, to measure the spiritual effects of prayer, research continues to reveal the powerful benefits for individuals, couples, and even entire families.
We know from a large body of research that prayer and religious service attendance are linked to stronger marriages. One 2012 study found an association between shared prayer and greater levels of relationship trust among married couples. Furthermore, IFS senior fellow W. Bradford Wilcox’s research with Nicholas Wolfinger concluded that “shared prayer is the most powerful predictor of relationship quality among black, Latino, and white couples, more powerful than a denomination, religious attendance, or shared religious friendships.”
As to why prayer is linked to more positive relationships for couples, Dr. Wilcox has explained here that
prayer helps couples deal with stress, enables them to focus on shared beliefs and hopes for the future, and allows them to deal constructively with challenges and problems in their relationship and in their lives.
New research measuring the effects of faith traditions on family life indicates that shared prayer may also benefit families in some of the same ways that it benefits couples. The recent study from researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU) was published in the Journal of Family Psychology and included a sample of 198 religiously-diverse families from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths in 17 states.
The researchers asked parents and children several questions about their faith traditions and how these traditions impacted their family life, including: “How does your family overcome major stresses and problems?” and “How do you share your faith with your children?” In an effort to avoid bias, the word, “prayer” was not used in the interview questions; however, prayer was referenced by family members in 96% of their responses.
Although the families prayed in different ways because of their diverse religious beliefs, there were similarities, including the timing of the prayers during specific family rituals or traditions, the priority families gave to prayer, and the relational processes the families shared. “For the 198 diverse families in our national study,” the BYU researchers wrote, “we found that ‘the family that prays together’ seems to benefit in more ways than just ‘staying together.’”
The study identified several common themes related to prayer and family relationships, including:
Families used prayer time as a way to transmit religious traditions to younger generations.
Prayer enabled family members to address problems or stresses they were facing, as well as reduced tensions in their relationships.
Prayer helped family members bond with one another and created a sense of family unity.
What The Bible Says About Blended Families
There are many reasons to pray for the family. One of them is because it is a spiritual discipline that helps you grow in your faith and relationship with God. Another reason is because Jesus asked us to pray for each other.
As Catholics, we believe that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us. In other words, Jesus prays for us. That’s why we ask Him to be our mediator with the Father (1 Timothy 2:5).
Praying for someone else involves asking God on their behalf. It also involves listening for what God wants to say through prayer about that person or situation. Praying for others can help you better understand what they need so that you can help them more effectively when they need it most.#ENDWRITE
Why pray for the family?
Our families are the first and most influential socializing agents in our lives. Because of this, we need to be intentional about raising our children in a way that will encourage them to grow into healthy, productive members of society.
Praying for my family is something I do every day. Some days it’s out of desperation or concern; other days it’s out of thanksgiving and joy. Sometimes it’s just because I love them.
For example, whenever one of my children is going through a difficult time — whether it be an illness or a life event — I pray for them constantly. I ask God to give me the words to say to comfort them or guide me in how best to help them through their struggle.
The Bible says that God knows each one of us intimately (see Psalm 139:1-6). If He knows us that well — including our hearts and minds as well as our bodies — then there’s no question that He knows how best to help us when we’re going through hard times in life. And so I pray for Him to guide me in knowing what would be best for my family during those times when they need guidance most.
The family is under attack.
Our nation’s leaders are attacking it through their policies and the media is attacking it through their entertainment.
The family is the foundation of our society and if we do not pray for our families, they will crumble down like David’s house in Psalm 102:25.
Praying for your family is serious business.
Your prayer life is your most important ministry. It’s where you get to communicate with God, and it’s where you get to hear from Him.
That’s why I believe that when we pray for our families, we’re not just asking God to bless our loved ones; we are also asking God to use us as instruments of His blessing.
But here’s the thing: Prayer isn’t supposed to be a one-way conversation — especially when it comes to praying for your family. If you want your family members to experience the blessings of God, then you have to be willing to do what it takes so that they can experience those blessings in their own lives.
So how can we do this? Well, there are three things that we must remember when praying for our families:
1) Pray for their spiritual growth and development
2) Pray for them in ways that will foster their growth and development as followers of Christ
3) Pray for them in ways that will bring glory and honor to God
Prayer is a way we can communicate with God, to ask for His help and guidance. God is always ready to listen to our concerns and answer our prayer requests. Prayer is also important because it helps us focus on what really matters in life.
The Bible says, “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men!” (James 1:2)
Prayer is a two-way conversation between God and us. We speak our needs and concerns to God, and He hears us and answers us.
Jesus taught us how to pray when He said, “Our Father in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9) The word “father” means that we are adopted into His family through Jesus Christ — if you believe in Him as your Savior!
We pray today for the strength to keep loving one another even when it’s hard; the wisdom to remember that the best things in life are often found in the simplest moments; and your guidance through these next few months as we navigate this transition together. Amen.
Dear Lord,
We know that you love us, even when we don’t quite understand how to love ourselves. We pray for the strength and courage to show our blended family how much we care about them. We pray for patience and understanding of each other’s needs and wants. We pray for love and acceptance of one another. Help us to be an example of what a blended family can be: a testament to your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, amen!
Dear God, thank you for bringing our blended family together. We are so grateful to be a part of your divine plan, and we know that we can trust in your guidance.
We ask that you help us to turn to each other in times of stress and need, as well as joy. Help us to be kind and generous toward one another, and help us to love each other with all our hearts. Bless this home with your love and protection, so that we may always walk in harmony together.
Thank you for bringing us together as a new family, and for giving us the chance to love one another in a way that only those who have been brought together by God’s hand could truly understand.
Dear God,
I pray that you would reveal the spiritual blessings in our blended family.
We know you have a plan for us, and we trust that it is good. We want to honour your will in our lives and be thankful for all of the gifts you have given us.
Bless our family as we try to live in a way that brings glory to you. We pray for wisdom and understanding as we learn how to love one another in ways that are healthy and wholesome. Please help us to be patient with each other, especially when things get difficult or confusing. Be with us as we navigate through these growing pains in our relationships so that we can come out stronger on the other side—all because of your grace!
Dear God,
We thank you for the many blessings you have given us.
We pray that we may continue to be a blessing to others.
Please help us to remember that our family is not made up of only those who share our blood, but also those who share our home.
Help us to love and respect each other through our differences and similarities.
Help us to forgive as we are forgiven.
We ask for your guidance as we learn how to live with one another day after day.