I’ll never forget the morning I was teaching a 4 & 5-year-old Sunday School class when one little boy and girl touched my heart in a way that still lingers around in my soul.
We were doing our classic opening and I asked for prayer requests. Requests for prayer over pets, family, and school were shared. And then one little boy raised his hand and said, “We need to pray for our pastors at church and their families.” I thought that was so sweet but skeptically thought that was a good church answer since the pastor’s wife was teaching Sunday School. But I was quickly humbled when this boy started off our prayer and rattled off all three pastor names that he could hardly pronounce. At the end of our prayer time, I looked at him and said, “You’ve prayed for your pastors before, haven’t you?” He and his step-sister both shook their heads and said, “Every night.” Oh, bless them!
This family was teaching their kids to pray.
Teaching our children to pray is one of the greatest spiritual life lessons we can give them.
Model Prayer: Simply start by praying with your child. Praying over meals reminds us that God is our provider. Praying at bedtime ends our day in remembering that God is the one who sustained us all day long no matter what we faced. Praying with our children before their day begins helps us put our focus on the most important person in our lives. But also praying on the way to a friend’s sleepover or on the sidewalk with a neighbor helps us practice a continual praying life.
My middle school daughter and I prayed with a man and his wife in the grocery store a few months ago after a serious conversation about his health. Was it awkward? Yeah, a little. But the Spirit of God impressed heavily on my heart to pray for him at that moment. I wasn’t going to let the setting stop me or a little bit of awkwardness hinder me. My daughter probably wanted to hide behind the rack of chips but it was good for her to be a part of.
Provide a creative outlet for Prayer: Let’s be honest – prayer isn’t the most exciting thing for a kid. Even if adults are honest we’ll admit that it’s easy to get lost in prayer, zone out or fall asleep. A tangible tool that has helped kids and adults learn to pray is a simple umbrella. Crazy right? I know but hang with me. Writing out some of the attributes and characteristics of God on the panels of a small umbrella help remind us that God is over all things. He is our covering and protection. The Umbrella Prayers Workbook is a wonderful resource to guide parents and their children in learning who God is based on scripture. Check out the umbrella prayers workbook and see if this might be a good resource for your family too. I use my book almost every single week. My daughter has one too and has prayed often through this creative method. Who says prayer has to be boring? It’s okay to delight in God through creative prayer. And it sure is fun.
It’s never too late to start praying with our kids so even if you’ve never been one to pray out loud with your children consider starting today.
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