30 Days of Praying for Children and Familiesಮಾದರಿ

Imagine Jesus announcing he was coming round to your house for a meal – today!

That’s exactly what happened to Zacchaeus: “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’” (Luke 19:5, NIV)

He didn’t just pass Zacchaeus on the road—he stopped, looked up, and invited himself to dinner. And in that moment, around a table, a transformation took place.

But mealtimes aren’t always serene. Hospitality isn’t always neat. Sharing our table means welcoming mess and noise – and yet, within that, we glimpse the grace of God. A place where truth is spoken and love holds steady.

Celebration often finds its place around the table. Throughout the gospels, Jesus shared meals with the poor, with strangers, and with friends. Meals were more than moments to eat; they were spaces to notice, to include, to love.

Who comes to mind as you read this? Is there someone God might be nudging you to invite – to share a meal, a moment, a table?

Prayer

Today, take a moment at a mealtime to pause, give thanks, and pray for someone you could invite to share food, conversation, or community with. Ask God to make your table a place of welcome.

Pray too for families and carers who open their homes and hearts, even when it’s messy or hard work. Ask God to strengthen them with patience, grace, and deep love.

Finally, pray for young people who eat alone, who lack safe or stable homes, or who have never known the joy of being invited in. May they encounter welcome through the love of Jesus and the care of others.