Oftentimes, children are taught to pray by letting them follow how big ones say it. Say, “Repeat after me” thing. Sometimes, we teach them by letting them memorize a prayer. Maybe that worked to some kids but I would like to share with you how Andy learns to pray.
- Bring your child to worship gatherings. As early as months old don’t fail to bring your child to a place where people praise and pray to God. Most specially, to children’s religious gatherings. Sometimes we doubt its effect because a child cannot talk yet or even understand what is happening around but never underestimate the impression of God to the little ones and the open, willing, and innocent minds. They are ready to grasp everything you do for them.
- Family worship is important. Let your little ones hear how you send your praises and supplications to God. Their fresh and young minds can imitate the things you habitually doing. Let them hear clearly their names as you mention them in prayer.
- Be watchful on the imitating days. When they start to imitate you already guide them on what to say. It will vary depending on the occasion. The venue and the what to pray about need to be relevant and it will not happen on the same situation most of the times. So, if you let them memorize a prayer it should be different in varied situations as well. Let them hear you pray on different scenes like praying before going to bed, eating, bathing, and travelling. Tell them to pray by their hearts and to talk to Jesus just like they are talking to you or to a friend. Let them pray with their language and assure them that Jesus listens, hears, and answers the prayer of the child. Just be careful about how God answers prayer…tell them as soon as they understand that God answers prayer with a YES, WAIT, or TRY THIS instead. But, at young age your child can understand if you talk to them as if they really get what you mean. Tell them the truth and the reality of prayer.
Bottomline is show, do, demonstrate and live a prayerful life as well. Pray a lot for them. Don’t forget to emphasize this text to them:
1 John 5:15, KJV: “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Reflections 