Ashleigh Whaley
Today we live in a fast and furious world, where we all expect immediate answers and results.
Prayer, and sharing one’s heart with God, provides the basis for success and enables us to keep our lives in perspective and order.
Jesus had a passion for prayer. He prayed wherever he was, standing, kneeling, looking up or lying down.
Prayer should become a daily conversation with God, through Jesus.
Embrace prayer and incorporate it into the daily training of your children.
Training our children to be more Christ-like means that we need to encourage them always to share their hearts with God.
Prayer should become a life essential, like it was for Jesus, who prayed continuously to Almighty “Abba”. Jesus simply adored His Father! He found that there was never enough time in a day to spend in conversation with Him. We need to teach the same principle to our children.
5 Easy Steps to Teach Your Children How to Share Their Hearts with God.
- Joyful Anticipation.
- Confident Participation.
- Heartfelt Conversation.
- Relentless Continuation.
- Genuine Appreciation.
The APOSTLE PAUL reveals 5 perspectives that can make a profound difference to the prayer life of any believer – especially our children. Paul says:
“Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4, 6-7 (NIV)
“Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you, in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
The following 5 principles need to be impressed upon our children’s hearts and minds…
1. Joyful Anticipation.
Teach your children that God loves them deeply, rejoices over them and answers them.
Remind them that God smiles at the sight of them. Instill in them the image of God rejoicing over them and this will enable your children to find great joy in spending time with God in prayer.
“The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
2. Confident Participation.
Children need to be taught that, in prayer, they can speak without reserve.
Teach them that their prayers are confidential, so that they have the courage to ask or tell God everything and anything.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace, to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
3. Heartfelt Conversation.
Children sometimes find it hard to speak from their hearts, to a God they cannot touch or see.
Show them God in nature around them and talk to them about the prayers that He has answered in your life. Help them to take their problems to God and to see the results, whether they be immediate, or not.
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find: knock and the door will be opened to you. Luke 11:9 (NIV)
4. Relentless Continuation.
It isn’t necessarily that prayer changes God’s mind, but that the act of praying changes us, whilst aligning us with God.
Teach your children that continual prayer is the integration of the here and now into the will of God. The more your children pray, the more confident they will become in knowing that God does answer their prayers.
5. Genuine Appreciation.
Always give heartfelt thanks to God for answers to prayers that have yet to be answered.
This habit results in a great deal of trust and reliance upon the Lord. Walking in faith, with thanks, helps children grow in their prayer life.
“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)
If children learn to pray with these 5 perspectives, they will find themselves praying more often, praying more effectively, praying more intimately, and praying in the will of God.
I teach my children… Pray, pray, pray and leave the rest up to the Lord.
No prayer is too short or too long. He will always come through, often at the last minute! When they are stuck with anything, they need to ask the Lord, who knows the answers to all things.
Jesus said the following, “In order to teach his disciples that they should always pray with the faith of a child.”
“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God, like a little child, will never enter it.” Luke 18:17 (NIV)
The act of prayer will give your children guidance, wisdom, and confidence for life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please give me the guidance I need to teach my children to seek You in prayer and to find comfort in You. May your love and Holy Spirit fill us today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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I would love to hear your thoughts on this? Please write and tell me below…..
Teaching children to pray is a precious gift to them…
Yes it’s the best gift you can give your child.