The Family Whose Prayers Will Be Answered

Brother Bob Pellien: As the world faces increasing challenges, many seek help and advice from marriage and family counselors for the welfare of their families. The Bible teaches about Whom people should all the more seek to provide them with unlimited assistance and protection for their household.

You’re listening to the podcast version of God’s Message magazine, and today’s topic is “The Family Whose Prayers Will Be Answered.”

A family’s condition has a great relevance to the well-being, or ill-being, of its every individual member. Studies show that the modern family is besieged by several threats to its stability: the worsening poverty, deadly diseases, destructive calamities, rising criminality, terrorism, divorce, extramarital pregnancy, and negative peer pressure are among the factors that directly or indirectly threaten the family.

In the face of such menaces, there are those who seek help and advice from marriage and family counselors or assistance and protection from concerned agencies that advocate for the welfare of families.

However, the Bible teaches about whom people should all the more seek to provide them with unlimited assistance and protection for their household.

Whom to turn to for help

Brother Bob: If families today find themselves in a tight spot, it is not something that’s new. The Holy Scriptures attest that “people are born for trouble.” In such situations, people should “go to God and present [their] case to Him” (Job 5:7-8 New Living Translation). Thus, if there is someone a family should turn to for help, He is none other than the Almighty God. With Him, all things are possible (Luke 18:27 ). 

However, to benefit from the Lord God’s promised help and protection, people should make sure that they are among His own people because it is to them whom He made a solemn promise that He “will not abandon” (I Samuel 12:22 Good New Bible). Apostle Peter identified who God’s chosen people are in the Christian era: they have been called “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9-10 New King James Version).

According to Apostle Paul, those who were called by God out of darkness were “conveyed…into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14 New King James Version). The ones who have redemption because they were purchased by Christ with His blood are none other than the members of the Church Of Christ (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation). 

Here in the Christian era, the members of the Church Of Christ are the ones to whom God made a solemn promise not to abandon them. Families inside this Church can turn to the Lord God and expect for His help and protection because they are among His people. So those who want to benefit from God’s promises ought to become true Christians or faithful members of the true Church Of Christ. 

What God can do

Brother Bob: The Bible attests to what the Lord can do for His people. “God saves the fatherless and the poor” and gives them hope (Job 5:15-16 Living Bible). “Time after time,” He saves His chosen ones from harm (Job 5:19 Good News Bible). Even when disasters come one after another, faithful servants of God have nothing to worry about since this is what He will do for them, thus:

From one disaster after another he delivers you; no matter what the calamity, the evil can’t touch you—In famine, he’ll keep you from starving..” 

[Job 5:19-20 The Message]

Brother Bob: For this reason, what Christian families should rely on above all else are not human efforts in this world, but God’s promised help to His chosen ones. Apostle Paul taught the true Christians that in all their prayers, they can ask God for what they need (Philippians 4:6 Good News Bible)

That is why families in the Church devote themselves to praying to Him. Parents lead their children in upholding household prayers and encourage them to conduct personal devotional prayers as well. They completely place their trust in God, fully confident that He will listen to and grant their prayers and provide them the best protection there is:

The Lord says, “If a person trusts me, I will save him. I will protect my followers who worship my name. My followers will call to me for help, and I will answer them. I will be with them when they have trouble. I will rescue them and honor them’.” 

[Psalm 91:14-15 Easy-to-Read Version]

God’s expectations

Brother Bob: Fervently praying to God and trusting in Him are important, but those are not all that He seeks in them. This is what the Holy Scriptures declare: 

The LORD has made a solemn promise, and he will not abandon you, for he has decided to make you his own people. Obey the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Remember the great things he has done for you.

[I Samuel 12:22 , 24 Good News Bible]

Brother Bob: Christian parents should make sure that all the family members are obeying and serving God faithfully with all their heart. They always remember all the great things that He has done for His people, including their family, and remind them to their children. 

Moreover, they, together with their offspring, love the Lord God with all their heart, soul, and strength. They never forget His commandments; instead, they teach them to their children in every opportunity—when they are at home or away, when they are resting or working (Deuteronomy 6:5-7 Good News Bible).

Thus, if every member of the household is dedicated to serving God and obeying His commandments, everything will be well for them:

All will go well with you if you honor the Lord your God, serve him, listen to him, and obey his commands, and if you and your king follow him.”

[I Samuel 12:14 Good News Bible]

Brother Bob: All will go well for the parents and their children in God’s nation who always follow His commandments because His love eternally abides with them:

God’s love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, Making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said.

[Psalm 103:17-18 The Message]

First place in one’s life

Brother Bob: Knowing that everything is possible with the Lord God and that He is willing to provide for His people, families in the Church Of Christ keep in mind what the Lord Jesus Christ teaches His disciples: 

So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.

[Matthew 6:31-33 Living Bible]

Brother Bob: Chrisitan families need not worry about their necessities in life since the one true God, the Father in heaven, not only knows perfectly well what they need, but will also provide for them. Only, they should give God first place in their life and live as He wants them to. 

<span style="font-weight: 4