Colossians 3:20-21 NKJV
“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”
INSIGHT
–Family unity is fundamental component of societal development. It enhances shared purpose and commitment among family members, fostering a strong relational bond that provides a sense of belonging, security, and identity. Children have been instructed to obey their parents in everything which pleases the Lord. It is vital that children should submit to the authority of their parents to enhance mutual respect and understanding. Fathers are cautioned from embittering their children, lest they become discouraged, which means avoiding harsh, controlling, or overly critical behavior that crushes a child’s spirit and desire to please. Mutual respect and love builds a unified family unit through the grace of God and individual commitment to a specific objective.
PRAYER
Father You have instructed us saying, children obey your parents for this is right. Father we come before You with humble submission that You may help us and our children to fear You and obey Your statutes. Dear Lord Jesus may You teach us to obey our parents as and be united in every family unit. May You teach our children to obey us for this is the first commandment with a promise, a covenant of long life of enjoyment on earth. May they never depart from Your ways and purpose. May You help us to parent our children with wisdom and grace lest we exasperate them and they become discouraged in life. May You break every form of depression and disillusionment among the youth and all people, and save all those who are contemplating suicide. It is by Your grace that You save us through faith and not from ourselves but it is a gift from You Lord. May You help us, may You save us our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
Further reading: Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:1-4
Genesis 2:23-24 NKJV
“And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
INSIGHT
–The foundational scriptures outline the value of marriage through oneness of flesh forming union between husband and wife. This union becomes the cornerstone in a family unit as we need Christ at the centre. It is vital to note that oneness in flesh could be broken in a marriage through adultery. 1 Corinthians 6:16, reveals that, “Or do you not know that he who is joint to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” Each one is called to drink water from their own cistern and avoid sexual sins that can draw one back and destroy the family bond.
PRAYER
Abba You are our everlasting God of peace, we exult Your holy name. Thank You for Your plan and purpose for our families. We thank You for the families that You have given us. Thank You for preserving us in Your salvation. Where we have gone astray and missed the mark, please forgive us dear Lord Jesus and wash us with Your precious blood. Those who are at the verge of separation and divorce, may You intervene and save these marriages Savior. There are many children who have been affected by broken marriages, some are living in the streets, may you save them dear Jesus. May You remember with mercy all those who are single and waiting on You for marriage that You intervene. None shall lack a mate according to Your word dear Jesus, may You have mercy. We worship You Lord and give You praise, and it is Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen
Further reading: Proverbs 5:15, 1 Corinthians 6:18
Joshua 24:15 NKJV
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
INSIGHT
–Joshua in his homestretch years urged the Israelites to make a choice on whether they want to serve the gods of the Amorites or the Living Lord. He made a commitment, pledging His allegiance to God saying that, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” declaring his unreserved devotion to the God of Israel. The family unit should be united in faith and commitment to serve the Only True and Living God, having the same mind and cultured into the mind of Christ through constant fellowship, reading the word and prayer.
PRAYER
Lift up your heads, O you gates and be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Dear Lord Jesus You are the King of glory, You are our God, strong and mighty in battle, may You fight for us every battle dear Lord Jesus. At the mention of Your name, every knee shall bow in heaven, on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus You are Lord to the glory of God the Father. May You protect us from every evil, forgive our iniquities and cover us with Your hedge of fire. Every force of witchcraft and sorcery trying to work against us will not succeed in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. May You fill us with Your Holy Spirit, with the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control. May You fill us with every spiritual gifts that we will be endowed with power and good works for Your glory Lord. May our families agree as one, united in purpose to follow You and do Your will alone, reading Your word and praying always. We declare that we shall serve You Lord with our households, may You help us dear Lord Jesus. Amen
Further reading: Psalms 24:7-10, Matthew 18:20
1 Corinthians 1:10 NKJV
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
INSIGHT
–God calls for unity among believers including families and advocates for a unified mind and speech. That they must agree, and there be no divisions, but unity in the same mind and judgment. The focus must therefore shift from human leaders to Christ, as the pivotal point of unity. Genesis 11:6 reveals to us that, if a family is united and they speak same language, whatever they propose to do will not be withheld from them.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus You have commanded that families should remain united in mind, speech and judgement. That there should not be any division among us, may You help us and encourage us dear Lord Jesus. May Your hand of mercy and love take charge of our families to guide us in the way that we should go. May Your grace encourage us to love and forgive one another sincerely and truthfully. Help us to love even our enemies, for between faith, hope and love, love remains the greatest. May You fill us with the fruit of love and encourage us to love You Lord with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength, and to love our family members as we love our own selves. In whatever plans that we have, may You guide us through and help us to succeed in all things that nothing will be impossible for us. May You help us to love one another in our generations, communities and nation and do good to one another. We honor You dear Lord Jesus and give You praise, and it is in Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen
Further reading: 1 Corinthians 13:13
Psalms 133:1-3 NKJV
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.”
INSIGHT
–It is foundational that a family upholds unity. It is like precious anointing oil flowing down the beard of Aaron, the high priest and as the life-giving dew of mount Hermon that refreshes the land, is family unity. It is pleasing to God and brings His abundant blessing, leading to spiritual and physical vitality for His people and fulfilling His purposes for God’s creation.
SUMMARY
A family is the basic unit and cornerstone where values, culture, discipline, identity, and social responsibilities are first taught and experience. Families nurture individuals emotionally, socially, and morally, preparing them to become responsible members of the wider community. The family supports the building of a stable environment where members can grow, thrive, and support one another through love, communication, and mutual respect. Children are called to obey their parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers are cautioned from provoking their children, lest they become discouraged (Colossians 3:20-21). God calls us to united in mind and judgement as families, speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among us (1 Corinthians 1:10). Joshua declared that as for him and his house, they will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15), which is vital for each family to desire and decide. Cornelius, a centurion was a devout man who feared God with all his household. He gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always (Acts 10:1-2). God calls us to have faith in Him and be united in the family unit for through this God commands a blessings and we succeed in whatever we decide to do.
PRAYER
Abba Father we give You praise, glory and honor. We worship Your name in the beauty of holiness. May You grant us unity in mind and judgement that we may be one with one another and with You Jesus Christ. May You make us one in You dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By Your grace we shall always overcome the snares of sin, satan and death. We are more than conquers in You Christ Jesus. We are more than victorious by Your precious blood and the word of our testimony. May You teach us love You and one another as ourselves, including our enemies. May You grant each household the gift of salvation through faith in You Jesus Christ. May You grant us and all people Your gift of eternal life dear Jesus, that we may resurrect in the Day of You Lord. Dear Lord Jesus may You do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask of or think of according to the power that is at work in us. Lord we trust in You and exalt You. We believe that You are able to do more than we can think of or imagine. We believe that we shall be extremely fruitful since we abide in You and You in us. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in Your house forever. May You bless us and keep us loving Father, may You shine Your face upon us and be gracious to us. May You lift up Your countenance towards us and give us peace. Amen
Further reading: 1 Timothy 5:8