In many homes, as the family gathers around the table to share a meal, heads bow and eyes close in preparation for the mealtime prayer. Some families hold hands while Mom or Dad ask the blessing on the food. Sometimes children utter a short prayer of their own. And whether the prayers are memorized prayers or not, the family mealtime prayer can quickly become so routine that the heart of the prayer is often missed.

A new book on the market is designed to make this moment of the day anything but routine. Family Mealtime Prayers–Scripture Prayers for All Ages and Occasions, is a book that belongs in the home of every family who says a mealtime prayer. This book is a collection of prayers based on God’s Word. It will equip parents to pray with confidence as well as teach their children biblical truth and godly character. With prayers for adults, children, and holidays, Family Mealtime Prayers will enrich and energize not only mealtime prayers, but also mealtime conversation.

Dale Cangelosi and his two pastor sons, Caleb and Cory, gave birth to the idea of this book and asked me to contribute the preschool prayers as well as the holiday prayers. Mature believers will appreciate the depth of the adult prayers, and new believers will appreciate how the prayers help them to grow in their understanding of their relationship with God. The prayers for children and preschoolers are written with age-appropriate language to keep their attention while adding variety to daily prayers. The holiday prayers will encourage families to honor our heavenly Father on these special days throughout the year. The Scripture references included in the book direct readers to God’s Word.

The following is an excerpt from the preschool section:

You Are Good
Dear God, you are so good. Thank you for your love. Thank you that you give me all I need. Thank you that you will be good to me forever. Please bless our food. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen.

In Psalm 23:6 (ICB), it says, “Surely your goodness and love will be with me all my life.”

To order a copy of this book, visit http://www.familymealtimeprayers.com

Here’s to keeping our mealtime prayers a real blessing!

Crystal Bowman