We all have had that person in our family. The prayer warrior. The one who prays during baby dedications, celebrations, and even funerals. The one that family members ask to pray for and with them. What if I told you we can all leave a legacy of prayer?

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. – Mark 11:24

1. Set a routine. When I was growing up, my aunt would watch her soap operas at night, turn off the television and ask us all to join her for the nightly prayer. We had a set time that we all knew we needed to be in the living room for prayers. This routine has stayed with me for years even though she has now passed and even though I don’t ask everyone in the house to join me, I say a small prayer before going to bed. It was this routine that brought back so many positive memories of her.

2. Make the habit a norm. I remember when I first moved into a condo and I would walk in and put my coat on the couch to later pick it up and hang it in the closet. I began to take my coat off and immediately hang it before leaving the entrance. It took a few days to make this a habit and to ask others to place their coats in the closet before walking past the entrance. A few months later and I stopped thinking about hanging my coat. The act of removing and hanging my coat became the norm and I no longer left the entrance with my coat. This is the same with prayer. If you pray before each meal with your kids, it may seem awkward to them in the beginning but after a few weeks, it becomes the norm.

3. Prepare for your time with God. Imagine having argued with a friend or family member and suddenly sitting down to pray. Or maybe your kids have been arguing all day and it’s time to pray. They will probably still be angry and you may get frustrated about their bickering. Do not go into prayer with anger in your heart. Take time to calm your spirit, resolve the problem if you can, or at least address it and let each other know you will get back to discuss the disagreement once you’ve both calmed down.

4. Be intentional. When we think of family traditions we think of the intentional things we’ve done to make things events personal to our families. These are intentional acts, like cooking a specific dish for a holiday, going to a specific person’s house, or even making sure you’re the first to wish a family member a happy birthday. All of these things are intentional and prayer should be the same.

How are you creating a legacy of prayer in your family? Share in the comments below.