What was the old family altar?
The old family altar was a former family practice in which the father read a few verses from the Bible and the family gathered in a circle of prayer, usually before the children boarded the early school bus. It was common in earlier generations but is rarely heard of today.
Les explains that the old family altar was something from his childhood, when the father would read a few verses out of the Bible and the family would have a circle of prayer, typically before the children got on the early school bus. He notes that you don't hear about it anymore, but God hasn't changed and His promises are the same. He connects this to the need for persistent prayer, saying that spending 10, 15, 20, or 30 minutes a day on your knees takes habit, and that in America we often don't feel the need to pray because we have it so good. He commends those who already spend 30 minutes every morning in the throne room.