Teaching Our Children to Pray
Written by Christine Crowley
“Now I lay me down to sleep” and “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for this food.” Unfortunately, all too often those two simple children’s prayers are the extent of our teaching our children how to pray. Then as they grow older we find ourselves wondering why prayer is not a vital part of our children’s lives.
Children imitate what they see modeled, and we need to be an example of praying adults for our children. If they are to become children, and later men and women, who know the importance of prayer and make prayer a daily practice in their lives, then as their parents and grandparents we need to be setting the example. How can we do this?
True or false: Bring your doubts
Questions: There are answers
- Let our children see us praying. Children learn by example. Our children and grandchildren need to see us starting our day off with prayer and reading the Bible.
- Our children also need to see us praying when a crisis arises or decisions need to be made. We also need to make pray a part of our children’s daily life by praying with and for them. Praying with our children needs to be more than a quick prayer said at meal and bedtimes.
- Send your children off with a prayer. We have an opportunity to make a difference in our children’s day by sitting down with them before they head to school and praying for them individually. We need to be pray for guidance and protection for our children while they are away from us. Then we need to give each child the opportunity to pray for their activities of the day, and any special concerns they may have for the day. At first we may have to pray for their activities, but as they become more comfortable with this time of prayer and praying in general, they will begin praying for their own needs and the needs of the brothers and sisters as well.
- Make a prayer box and write on slips of paper the names of extended family members, church leaders, close friends, and special needs of those in the church. Then at breakfast or during your family devotions, have each child draws a slip of paper and have them pray for the person whose name they drew throughout the day.
- Pray over problems. When our children come to us with problems, such as problems with a classmate, upcoming test, we need to not only listen to them, and advise them, but also pray with them. Like us, our children may become discourage with prayer when they don’t see their prayers being answered right away. Just as we need to occasionally be reminded of the prayers God has answered for us, so do our children.
- Make a “Thank You, God” box for answered prayers. As prayers are answered, write them down and place them in the “Thank You, God” box. Then once a week have each member of the family draw out a thank you slip and praise God for the answered prayer.
- Encourage older children to keep a prayer journal. The prayer journal can consist of not only their prayer request and answers to prayer, but a place to write their prayers out.
We need to remember that our children and grandchildren will not become prayer warriors overnight, but prayer can becomes a vital part of their lives. Don’t try to put all these tips into practice at once, but start with one or two. Also don’t get discouraged if you miss a day or two of praying with your children. Just pick up and start again. Remember, start with prayer. Pray and ask God which prayer practice He would have you and your children start with and watch how God will bless not only the lives of your children and grandchildren, but your life as well.
Tags: christine crowley, Family, how to pray, parenting, prayer, Women
Email
Print
Upcoming Chats- Simple Christmas
December 4, 2008 9:30 pm (eastern) - Community Prayer Time
December 5, 2008 8:00 am (eastern) - The Importance of the Church (Part One)
December 5, 2008 2:00 pm (eastern)
Comments