Does going to church matter? Is it okay if I don’t pray with my spouse?
Brad Wilcox from the Institute for Family Studies shares the impact that regular church attendance and prayer can have on our lives. His research has led him to discover that one of the leading factors of thriving families, specifically minorities, is regular church attendance.
“They’re enjoying happy marriages, strong families and they have more traditional family values.”
Regardless of ethnicity, families who attend church together have been found to be the happiest families in America.
“That’s in part because they’re more likely to have shared friends in the congregation to give them support, to give them counsel and hold them accountable.”
Couples that go to church together are much more likely to pray together which can also lead to increased quality of life.
“Praying together as a couple is certainly one of the most powerful predictors that we see in our models of having a successful marriage.”
Shared prayer has the power to not only unite a couple in marriage, but also to unite an entire family as well. Why is it so important?
“Shared prayer gets couples on the same wavelength; they’re often articulating concerns about their marriage, their kids, and their lives; it’s a very intimate thing for couples to share together.”
In a world where families are being pulled in every direction with soccer practices and band concerts, it is crucial for couples and families to set aside time to come together and unite under God in prayer.
“It’s an opportunity for communication, for intimacy and for them to experience the power of their faith together.”
Maybe it’s time for you to up the ante of your prayer life and begin attending church more regularly, it’s never too late to start and God might surprise you with what he has in store for you and your family.
