(1) Families that do not seek to have worship in their homes may not need to pray. When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he taught them to begin with a heart of worship, recognizing the holiness of the Father, praying, "Our Father in heaven, holy is your name" (Matthew 6:9). When families pray, they worship.
(2) Families that do not desire the guidance of the Lord for their lives may not need to pray. The Matthew 6 prayer continues with the famous line, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Families that pray together, seek the Lord's will for their homes and hearts together.
(3) Families that do not need God's provision may not need to pray. Verse 11 of this same chapter reads, "Give us this day our daily bread." Every home has needs from daily bread to jobs, rent, healing, wisdom, peace, and much more. Jesus says that "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all" (v. 32). Prayer is when the needs of our hearts are trusted in the hands of our Father; our Provider.
(4) Families that never have to seek forgiveness may not need to pray. Jesus continues his model prayer: "...and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (v. 12). Most days find most family members needing to fogive and needing to be forgiven. These needs appropriately lead us to prayer.
(5) Families that can tackle the temptations, trials and evils of life on their own may not need to pray. For the rest of us, however, we are taught to go to the Father in prayer, asking for deliverance as we pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (v. 13). When deliverance and protection and freedom and victory are needs, prayers are vital.
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