Do you want to develop quality family worship and enjoy a dynamic time of fellowship with God? Unlock the answer to the  question of how to accomplish such a feat by using three keys. Every key has a specific purpose. Do not expect to open the car door with the key intended for the front entrance door. A family provides the foundation for any society. That family can be nuclear, blended, communal or any variation on the theme. Christians claim to be a family. Have you ever heard Christians sing:

I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God ?

In the family of God, the members are referred to as brother and sister. The fellowship and relationship that is enjoyed at church should be transferred to the home. Conversely, the love and  joy that radiates from a family who enjoys  quality worship - a dynamic time with God, will permeate the church. People will know - without having to be told - that the family has been with Jesus Christ and has a personal  relationship with Him.  What are the three keys to quality family worship?

Praise Worship

"Lord in the morning thou shalt hear

My voice ascending high."

The hymn writer states specifically 'in the morning'. Jesus Christ, the model for Christians, rose early and went to a quiet place for worship.

'In the morning when I rise

In the morning when I rise

In the morning when I rise

Give me Jesus..."

Nobody knows what the day will bring. My sisters and I organized a group called The Prayer  Connections. When my sister and her family lived at my house, we rose at 5:00 a.m daily for worship. The Holy Spirit directed us to Ephesians 6:10 -18 and instructed us to dress in each piece of armor with a Bible text. We obeyed Him and dressed daily.

One morning my nephew,niece and sister were riding in the truck with my brother. My brother was involved in an accident. My nephew was thrown forward and hit his head against the windshield, shattering it. He was taken to hospital and his head x-rayed. Besides not having any external injuries, the x-rays indicated no internal damage. My nephew was wearing the helmet of salvation for he had dressed in it; and he has a personal relationship with God. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people; and the angel of the Lord encircles them.

 Later, when this sister was critically ill, I went to live at her apartment. The medication had taken its toll; and everything looked grim. But, the Word of God stands firm. We had our early morning devotions and I interspersed some of my original songs with the familiar ones. A few weeks later, I heard my sister singing one of the original songs. I rejoiced because it indicated that the songs had reached her spirit and her health had improved tremendously.

Worship With Prayer

In the poem Morte d' Arthur [Death of Arthur] the speaker declared:

"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of".

Do you believe in the power of prayer? Do you practice daily prayer? Have you taught your family prevailing prayer? My nephew went to the beach and during the time there he got sand in his eyes. When he got home, he found a Bible and turned to John 3:16. Then he put the bible to his eyes and prayed. The next morning he felt better. When I asked him about what he had done, his answer proved simple.  He explained that he knew how to read John 3:16; and he had been taught to pray.

Jesus' disciples wanted Him to teach them to pray. John had taught his disciples to pray. Are there prayer techniques? God honours His word high above His name. Thus,with this awareness, Bible teaching becomes an integral element in prayer worship. My mother directed us in worship in the morning and before we went to bed. Psalm 23, 27,34,91,100 and 121 were among the favourites. One night my sister was boiling water for the thermos in the kettle and the baby's bottles and nipples in a pot. She fell asleep and went to bed without turning off the stove.

In the middle of the night, our mother testified, a man woke her, took her by the hand and led her to the kitchen. The stove was rosy- as if ready to explode. She was able to turn off the stove. The kettle and the content of the pot had been burnt beyond recognition. We knew based on her account that it was no ordinary man who had led her to the kitchen. God had given His angel charge over the family; and we had been plucked as brand from the burning.

Worship Through Personal Relationship

Praise and worship, daily prayer, Bible reading and study have their benefits. However Psalm 1 and Joshua 1:8 speak about the individual. God is a personal matter. Family members can go through the ritual and routines expected of them. Recently a young boy stole his father's car.Why? He did not want to go to church. Apparently, he hated to attend church. Worship, whether with the family or alone, has to result from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Often,  the personal connection is overlooked on the way to spiritual goals.

Several years ago I was inspired to use the Bible to help a group of 'reluctant' readers develop better reading skills. When we studied the Parable of the Sower, I asked each person to pinpoint the seed with which he could identify most. The majority of the class indicated that they were the seed on stony ground. Why? many of them went to church; and some had gone to Bible camp. Although they had 'given their heart to Jesus Christ, they felt dry. Nobody had followed up on their decision and guide them in their Christian experience. They did not know what to do after accepting Jesus Christ as Lord. Anyone can say:

"Read your Bible, pray every day and you'll grow, grow, grow."

I was the first person to check and discover that they struggled to read the Bible and did not understand some of the words there. The Literature of the Bible course opened my eyes to their needs. before we went home, a group came to talk with me.They wanted to try  Jesus Christ and the salvation he offered again. I talked with them that afternoon and everyone made a commitment or recommitment to live for Jesus the Christ -including me. One student from that group experienced a miracle. One morning as she was reading the Bible, the words out ' at her; and she understood them. I tested her by allowing her to read random passages. She was fluent. Her grades improved overall; and so did her grade point average.

God provides many opportunities to enrich the lives of His children. Three keys that open the storehouse of His love, mercy and grace is worship. Whether this worship is in verbal praise, praise songs, spiritual songs,hymns, dance, music, meditation, Bible reading and study, the purpose of worship is to show God respect and love, as well as give Him glory and honour. Quality dynamic worship demands giving God the best of time and talent and recognizing that the body is His temple- the sanctuary for the King of Kings. A personal relationship with God heightens the awareness of stewardship. Good  and their family enjoy dynamic, quality worship with their Master.