Praying with Your Kids
1 Thessalonians 5:17
The phone line is always open. You will never be put on hold. You have instant access to commune with the Creator of the universe. You can talk to Him about anything that is on your heart, and He is always there to listen. Yet, many of us seem to struggle with our prayer lives. Where is the disconnect, and what can we do? How can we create a rhythm of prayer in the life of our family?
As is the case with any of the spiritual disciplines, it begins with you, the parent. If you want your kids to devleop a rhythm and practice of prayer, then they must see it in you. You must set the example. As prayer becomes more consistent in your own personal walk with Jesus, the overflow of your prayer life will pour into the lives of your kids as well. When you grow closer to Jesus, you will discover the benefits of close communion with Him and will desire to pass it on to your children.
As with Bible study, prayer does not have to be restricted to a formal time set aside each day just for prayer. Prayer is simply open communication with God, a conversation you can jump in and out of throughout the course of your day. This is what Paul meant in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. “Pray without ceasing” simply means, always be in the spirit and attitude of prayer, knowing with confidence that God is always available and listening.
Open up that conversations with the Lord when you wake up each morning and come back to Him throughout the day with your praises, confessions, and requests. Invite your children into the conversation. Pray with them. Pray over them. Encourage them to lift their voices to the Father. As they grow older, teach them how to pray on their own. Show them how they can pray independently and remind them that God cares about them and is always ready to hear their prayers.
How Do I Pray?
Keep the phone line open throughout the day - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Model your prayer life after the Lord’s prayer - Matthew 6:9-13
Use an acrostic. Here is just one example: P.R.A.Y. (Praise - Repent - Ask - Yield)
“A child who regularly spent time in prayer while growing up has 7.5% stronger spiritual health as a young adult.” - Lifeway Research, Nothing Less, 2017
Next Week: Gospel Conversations at Home