TEACHING YOUR CHILD TO PRAY

Welcome to Monday with a Mission

I hope you felt the Holy Spirit nudge you this week.  I did. Some were more than nudges. How about you?

Question? –

Do you encourage your child to pray for others?

Do you ask your child to pray during your family mealtime?

What about a larger family gathering?

When you are out at a restaurant?

If so, how do they feel when asked?  If not, why are they not asked?

Today let’s talk about prayer…

Let’s move from prayer is for adults to grabbing onto the reality that children need to know how to pray. Yes, they do.

Most of you know about our ministry, Prayer Pocket Ministry.

Our desire through Prayer Pocket Ministry is to provide helpful ways, tools, so to speak, to guide you into a compassionate, consistent and powerful daily prayer life.

We offer two sets of cards, both sets specifically for adults. The cards are published in English, Spanish, and Swahili. One set is created for more mature believers and the other set is for new believers or those who have not had a consistent prayer life.

Both sets provide scripture and prayer points. Our cards are always free. Check out the tab for Prayer Pocket Ministry. You will find more information about all the prayer pockets and card sets.

 Now we are introducing sets for children.

We are excited to offer two sets. One for younger children, 2-6 year old’s, where parents can read and help guide the child through the prayer and the other set, I’d say for 7-12 year old’s,  for those children who can read.

The pockets are sewn with fabric that children would probably find appealing.

It’s always good to have you, parents, involved in this prayer time until they are older and show you a desire to pray privately.

Armor of God cards

The cards are based on the Armor of God.

One of my granddaughters is in first grade this year. Last year in kindergarten there were times of conflict. It was a difficult year in some aspects. When I had the honor of taking her to school, we would pray a “putting on the armor of God” prayer before we arrived at the school.

We would talk about each piece and how it could help her.

Like for instance – the Helmet of Salvation – how we must guard our mind against bad things. We would talk about things that may happen.  Maybe the teacher would ask her to sit down and do her work and she wasn’t ready to –  how do we handle that?

Of course, we always listen to the teacher, try to always do your best, pretend Jesus (because He actually is) sitting right with you watching everything, and then always say nice things, be kind.

Her response one day was – “grandma, I may have to put the Helmet on again today. Is that ok?”

“Yes, sweetheart, it is certainly ok” as I tried not to smile, knowing that I find myself in the same situation, “you may have to, but that’s ok. I may have to do the same,” I told her, “but that is what is so wonderful, we can put it back on. Sometimes,” I continued, as I looked in the rear-view mirror, “I can imagine some of my armor falling off, making a loud crashing noise, reminding me how much Jesus loves me and wants me to do the right things. So that helps me to remember, do what Jesus wants me to do so my armor doesn’t fall off.”

She now loves to pray at meal time, knows how to put the armor on, because we pretend we are putting it on as we call out each piece, and talks more about Jesus and what He does and how He loves her.

Pick a time…

So, pick a time. Will your child respond better to prayer time in the morning or at bedtime?  Try both times to see what works best. The cards are a guide to help make prayer a daily special time with Jesus. You add to them, use them in a way that best suits you and your child.

Guess what happened to me today?

When your child comes to you with a problem, “guess what happened to me today?” or you need to explain the whys of a consequence you can guide them into prayer.

Use the Bible to find answers or have them pull out their personal prayer pocket and find one of the cards that covers their problem.

Such as the Belt of Truth – always tell the truth – ask Jesus to protect them from lies.

Prayer can be a special friend…

If your child learns how to pray, and why we pray, they will always have a private friend. Jesus.

The first time they pray out loud at a gathering or a family meal your heart will swell. Much like the love that Jesus has when he hears the prayers of His children, no matter how old they are.

Your challenge this week?  Teach a child to pray, pray with them, encourage them, guide them. Which is a mission of great love.

Pray with me…

Thank You, Jesus, for loving me. Show me this week how to spend more time with You as I teach a child the importance of prayer. In Jesus name. Amen