In Luke 11:1, Jesus’ disciples asked Him “Lord, teach us to pray…” One of the greatest ways you can help your child develop their own authentic faith is by teaching them to pray. Pray regardless of the circumstances. We don’t just pray when something good or bad happens-we pray all the time, no matter what our lives look like.
Set the Example – You should have a caught and taught approach. Allow your kids to see and hear you pray on a regular basis by:
1. Giving thanks when God blesses you or answers a prayer.
2. Praying for family members.
3. Praying for those in need.
4. Model prayer when seeking wisdom for important decisions.
5. Prioritizing prayer before you start your day.
Types of Prayers
One-Sentence Prayer: Something simple like “Please heal Grandpa,” “Help me to concentrate on this test,” or “I’m sorry for losing my temper earlier today.”
Gratitude Prayer: God gives all of us little moments throughout the day where we can pause and thank Him for His goodness-such as saying, “Thank you for the beautiful sunset.” “Thank you for my friends.”“Thank you for parents who take care of me.” or “Thank you for having my favorite food for lunch.”
Fill-in-the-blank Prayer: This can be used to help guide prayer times, such as the following starter lines:
“God, I love you because _______”
“Thank you, God, for_______”
“God, please help________”
“God, I’m sorry for_________”
Deuteronomy 6:7 gives us amazing times of when to pray with our kids. Do it consistently and you will help create prayer as a natural habit in your home.
o Mealtime: Briefly give thanks before you eat and then go around the table and share one thing you are thankful for about the day.
o Bedtime: Close out your day by praying with your family. Whether we have a great parenting day, or a rough one, ending the night in prayer together reminds us we can rest in God’s goodness no matter what. Use this guide on how to pray over your child as you end the day (Head to Toe Prayer link)
o Drive time: Before you start the engine, pause for a brief prayer together, asking God to go with you and then invite everyone to pray a One-Sentence prayer for anything about the upcoming activities of the day. This habit will help your kids learn to talk with God throughout the day.
o Walks: Walks are a great way to tell your kids what God is doing in your life and gives them an opportunity to share with you as well.
Some other fun ways to help create the spiritual habit of prayer:
o Prayer Board: Keep a dry-erase board in a high-traffic area and use it to write down items that your family can pray for together.
o Prayer Journal: Help your kids start a prayer journal to record their prayers and how God answers them.
o Mirror Prayers: Write a list of prayers on your child’s bathroom mirror so they remember to pause and pray before they start their day.