God wants everybody to pray (1 Peter 4:7).  Instructing his assistant, Timothy, the Apostle Paul placed a special responsibility on men, especially those who are husbands and fathers.  The word for ‘men’ in this verse does not mean ‘mankind’ in general but ‘males’; particularly those who were mature and had the responsibility of leading a family or the church in public worship (1 Timothy 2:1-15).  Paul told the Early Church to continue the Jewish pattern of family and public prayer as men lifted up their hands, symbolising the submission and sacrifice of their hearts to God (Psalm 141:2).  

In the same way that God heard Hannah’s prayer (1 Samuel 1:1-20), when anybody prays sincerely, each prayer is a confession that they are not God (they are praying to God); that they do not know everything (God alone is omniscient); that they have limited power (God alone is omnipotent); that they need God’s help.  This is very different to the ostentatious praying of the Pharisees, whose proud hearts Jesus rebuked (Matthew 6:5).  In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus explained that prayer motivated by religious pride is offensive to God, but the repentant sinner’s prayer is gladly received.

Holy praying is humble praying.  It is important for the family, as well as the church, to know that those who lead them are fully dependent on God.  Their claim of faith needs to be accompanied by a confident inner holiness that does not need to argue.  Godly inner peace is a product of humbly honest prayer in private (Matthew 6:6) and the willingness to follow the apostles' teaching into godly living (Philippians 4:4-9).  Prayer with the family and the church should be no different.

It is said, ‘… a family that prays together, stays together’.  Real prayer cannot come from arrogance and hostility; neither can harmonious relationships.  In our fast-moving world with longer hours invested in work and leisure, prayer is easily squeezed to the margins of personal and family life; and prayerlessness becomes the breeding place for ungodly motivations and actions.  Where leaders have no regard for the Lord, the prayers of those they lead are doubly important.  And when those who are proud in their inmost thoughts (Luke 1:51) turn to the Lord in repentance and faith, one of their first spiritual responsibilities is to humble prayer - as they reset their focus from themselves onto the Lord.