One of the most important things we can do is to teach kids how to pray.
As we teach kids how to pray, we are setting them up for a lifetime of passionately following Jesus.
Let's look at some key things we can do to help kids learn how to pray.
Help kids understand that prayer is simply talking to God.
Prayer is also listening to God. God speaks to us through His Word. Teach kids these things about listening to God:
Before you read the Bible, ask God to speak to you through His Word. God never fails to speak to us as we read His Word. Write down one thing that He said to you.
Teach kids that God will never tell us to do something that goes against His Word.
God also speaks to us through the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. This is demonstrated through the story of God speaking to Elijah in the cave.
"After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave."
Teach kids how to pray. Share these elements with them.
Pray for forgiveness for your sins.
Spend time praising God for His goodness, mercy, provision, etc.
Tell God how great He is and thank Him for His blessings in your life.
Ask God for His provision.
Ask God to use your life for His glory.
Ask God for wisdom to make the right choices.
Pray for your family.
Here is a practical way to help kids pray...this works especially well with younger children.
Have the child hold up his or her hand.
The thumb represents praising God for His glory. Think about how good He is.
The pointer finger represents thanking God for how He has blessed you and your family.
The middle finger is about praying for others. Pray for people you know who are sick. Pray for people who need Jesus in their life.
The ring finger is about confession. Ask God to forgive you and cleanse you for any sins you have committed.
The pinky finger is about asking God for His daily provision in your life.
Help kids understand that prayer is not some ritual that they must go through. Rather, it is a way to connect with your best friend...Jesus. It's about spending time with Him.
Help kids understand that there is power in prayer.
We know that nothing of eternal value happens without prayer. Prayer is the way we see God move and do miraculous things in our lives and in the lives of those we are praying for.
Lead by example.
Be a prayer warrior yourself.
Let kids hear you praying out loud.
Pray before you eat your meals and thank God for His provision. Do this at home and in public restaurants.
Share with them prayers that you have seen answered.
I have personally seen the power of prayer and how God answers the prayers of children.
A few years ago, I was invited to speak at a conference in Indonesia. Indonesia is 85% Muslim. But in the heart of Jakarta, Indonesia there is a church that ministers to over 12,000 people each weekend. When I got to the church I had to be cleared by a medal detector and had to walk past a security man who was holding a machine gun.
I wondered why this church had grown so quickly and reached so many people? It wasn't the staff. There where only 2 staff members for the entire church.
I was soon to find out the reason for their growth and blessings. During one of the services they took me to a room that was underneath the auditorium. In this room, there were dozens of kids who were on their faces, asking God to bless the service and to move in the heart of the people who needed Him.
It quickly became clear why God was blessing this church in the middle of a Muslim country.
It was the power of prayer!
Let's be committed to seeing kids pray at home and at church. When we do this, God will respond and use our ministries for His glory.
