Praying at The Dinner Table

Are Families Still Honoring God at the Dinner Table?

When you gather your family at the dinner table, are you still honoring God with prayer before eating?

Most families today are on such busy schedules with careers, school, after-school activities, etc. that once in their seat, they shovel the food in so quickly that before you know it, they are no longer at the table.

Or did your family at one time grace the food before eating, but it became a meaningless ritual eventually disappearing?

How did mealtime prayer begin?

A Christian’s foundation for praying over our food is based on biblical acts.

Jesus prayed over the loaves and fishes before serving it to the multitudes of followers. He asked for His Father’s blessing over the food.

“Taking the five loaves of bread and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and said a blessing. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people.” - Mark 6:41

As Christ was sitting at the Lord’s Supper, He gave thanks before passing the cup to each disciple and again before passing the bread to each of them.

“After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you.’ He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” - Luke 22: 17-19

Paul instructed Christians to receive food with thanksgiving.

“...foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” 1 Timothy 4:3

God is the provider of our food that He sets before us, and we should honor Him before partaking of the food.

Through the simple act of praying at the table with your family before a meal, your children witness your devotion to Christ. It is so easy in this day and age to fail to acknowledge that God answers our petition to “give us our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)

Mealtime will Change

Mealtime prayer will quickly remove the veil of the mundane task of repetitive eating and help your family to realize that what is before them is a blessing. You will be surprised to find that once you make this a habit in your home, eating and tasting the food becomes enjoyable and at a slower pace.

“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31