“Give thank to the Lord, for He is good” Ps. 106:1

I suspect that most people reading this blog have a regular habit of praying at mealtimes. But do you ever feel like praying at meals is more of a ritual devoid of serious thought or genuine thankfulness? I know I find myself just going through the motions sometimes, and I don’t want it to be that way.

Recently, I heard about a book designed to turn mealtime prayers into an opportunity to make much of Christ and His Word. It called Family Mealtime Prayers: Scriptures to Pray for All Ages and Occasions. The authors have created a tool that will transform a ritualistic tradition most of us practice into something rich and powerful. Their simple, yet profound approach to Bible-centered family mealtime praying will turn your heart and your grandchildren’s hearts towards God in an environment where genuine worship and spiritual formation occur.

I believe we are not leaving a legacy of blessing and grace when our mealtime prayers are stuck in a rut. Nobody pays attention—including God, I dare say. The Cangelosis have struck gold with this simple tool that can turn giving thanks at meals from repetitive lips service to an opportunity to engage our children and grandchildren (and ourselves) with the knowledge of God and His goodness.

This is a tool I strongly urge all of you to get. I know I am going to use it, not only for our mealtimes prayers as a couple, but when the kids and grandkids come to visit. I’m going to encourage my adult children to get copies for their homes as well. It is so simple, yet so amazingly powerful. And one of the neat things about this tool is that there are prayers for all ages, so you can involve your grandchildren and teach them how to pray.

Here’s a sample of a prayer from the book children ages 5-12:

Scripture—1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 ESV Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.

“Dear God, you have given us many things to be thankful for, like our home, our food, and our family. We especially thank you for eternal life through Jesus. No matter how hard life gets, help us to always rejoice in you and talk with you about everything in prayer. Please bless this fool in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

To learn more about Family Mealtime Prayers visit their web site at www.familymealtimeprayers.com. If you pre-order the book, you’ll be able to get your copy in mid to late August and a 20% discount. The book won’t even be in bookstore until around Thanksgiving. You can also sign up for their daily e-book and other great resources to help you in your family mealtime and discipleship with your children and grandchildren. Be sure to tell the parents of your grandchildren about this great resource.