TEACHING KIDS HOW TO PRAY

© Daneille Gray Snowden  2012

TEACHING KIDS HOW TO PRAY

By Daneille Gray Snowden

For the past several years the Lord has been prompting my heart to TRULY teach my children how to pray; especially by example. We are blessed to read God’s Word together each morning, along with scripture memorization and do a quick prayer. In the evening, we have our family Bible time with prayer. Yet, the Lord would not ‘let-up’ on my spirit. As I have watched them grow, I do see a weakness in their prayer lives. How? Well, when they spend five minutes in prayer; basically racing through a quick over view of praise and intercession. Obviously, the younger the child this is to be expected. As our children approach mental, emotional and of course spiritual maturity this should change. From the beginning of their lives we are responsible to teach them how to pray, when they get to the more mature age here is when we jump in with detail explanation on how to pray. 

Purchase a journal for your child. Allow them to pick one out or buy a plain one and allow them to decorate it.

  Your child should at this stage in their lives have their own Bible as well.

  First teach them how to pray, sharing with them the ability to be flexible in their prayer life. God has His plans for each of us for each day, including our intimate time with Him. Teach your children to be careful to not be the ones ‘in control’ of their time with God. But to totally come before Him in complete surrender. 

  Start your children off by writing in a ‘Prayer List’ within their new prayer journal. Taking in account this lesson on how to pray.

  Divide the Prayer List into 3 categories:

Date Requested           Request         Date Answered

  Imagine as the days and weeks go by, when they get to put in the date the prayer was answered how their faith will grow. Isn’t that wonderful? 

  It is the job of the parent to teach their children how to pray and when to…not the church. They don’t instantly learn how to pray scripturally on their own. Deuteronomy 6:7 And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. (rd. vs. 8-10 as well). 

Let’s Begin:

I.)   Quiet place, private place to worship & pray. 

   *Praying In A Closet   

  Matthew 6:5-6 

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Isaiah 26:20 

Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.

       * Praying TO God and not FOR man.

       * Closet: inner chamber/ a secret room

 II.)  We must first "put off" our sin and self, and "put on" Christ. Repent of sins we may not even be aware of. God cleanse us and forgive us.  “Create in me a clean heart, cast me not away from Thy Presence and Renew a right spirit within me.” Ps. 51:10

            "And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:21-22) 

     * “…our heart condition matters more in worship than our voice, our good intentions or our actions. Without a cleansed heart, we simply cannot enter His presence or worship.”  [Nancy Missler = Entering Gods Presence] 

III.) Enter in God’s Presence With Worship & Praise

   Psalm 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with psalms. 

  “Enter in His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” – Psalm 100:4 

   *It was considered arrogant intrusion to enter the presence of an earthly king without bowing down to his majesty, praising his greatness and authority, and thanking him for the privilege of his audience.  [Luis Yosefus]

   *Express how much God is worth to us. Worth of all thanks!

   *We were created to praise.  Revelation 4:11 

   *Praise and worship is the means of entering God’s presence. 

III.) Pray for the Lost Souls of this entire World by Praying for Workers (Believers to Witness the Gospel)

     *Luke 10:2 Therefore said he to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. 

   *Matthew 9:38 Ask therefore the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest field 

IV.) Church 

     *To seek God/to have a revival of intercession.  

     *Prayer in church is a great spiritual power where believers pray together with unity of purpose (this is also known as 'in agreement'). 

     * The church to “seek guidance and the power to do as guided, 

     * Church is to pray for support. 

     *Church is to  pray for boldness for the Gospel. 

     *Church pray for specific healing. 

     *Local church and world church should  seek God, be consumed by Him, and work for Him. 

V.) Sick

    *James 5:15-16 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 

   *Mark 11:23-"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24) Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25) And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." 

VI.) Hurting: Lonely, Grieving, Depressed

    *Psalms 147:3 – He heals the broken heartened, binding up their wounds. 

    *Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. 

    *2Thessalonians 2:16, 17 – May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and hope which we don’t deserve, comfort your hearts with all comfort, and help you in every good thing you say and do. 

VII.) Provision: Financial, Open doors, Help

     *Raven: 1 Kings 17:2-7  Provision

    *The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way' (Ps 37:23). Guidance

     *Joshua was a helper to Moses. (Exodus 17:8-16, 24:13 - 25:8,  Numbers 13) As well as Caleb; (strength and faith). God send help to those who have devoted their lives to God’s Work.  Help

VIII.) Prayer for Family: different for the uniqueness of family. Always for salvation, healthy, happiness, peace, unity, provision, guidance and purpose. 

IX.) Pray for Self: Same as family.

X.) With Thanksgiving and Praise. Either before, after or even during ask for God’s directive in reading passages of scriptures. Meditate on His Word as He is faithful to give revelation. 

A strong prayer life leads to a strong family. A strong family alter time leads to a strong church. A strong praying Body of Believers leads to a Powerful Nation serving the True and living God.

It all starts at home!