Children and the Spiritual Practice of Prayer
Prayer is a gracious and powerful gift from God. Often, we just take this gift for granted and often we ignore it. But it’s our opportunity to communicate with God, the one who made us and who loves us and who, through prayer, is always accessible to us. So how do we share this precious gift with our children?
First, because we are made in God’s image we have a built-in propensity for a relationship with God.
We shouldn’t assume young children do not have a relationship with God, because the Spirit of God is present and at work in their lives. There are no age restrictions mentioned in the bible concerning prayer. If fact, it’s just the opposite. As a boy, Samuel heard the voice of God before the chief priest of God heard it; Daniel’s early prayer life included the interpretation of dreams; and John the Baptist experienced the Spirit in the womb.
Children have experienced the loving presence, peace, assurance, and direction of God. But they often look to us to give voice to what they are experiencing. So those prayers we say with our children are a reminder and assurance that what they are experiencing spiritually is God.
Dwelling with God in Prayer
Children should be introduced to a wide variety of prayer practices. These include:
- Thanksgiving: Giving thanks to God.
- Listening: Prayer is not one sided. We need to also take time to rest in God’s presence.
- Petition: Prayers regarding needs.
- Intercession: Prayers for others.
- Lament: Prayers of struggle, for sharing our anger, our doubts, and our questions.
- Praise: Giving God glory and sharing our love and praises for God.
- Salvation: Acknowledging our sinfulness and receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
- Commitment: Promising to live our lives for God and share his love and Jesus’ story with others.
Children can also be taught different postures of prayer, including:
- Celebration: Glorifying God through word and worship.
- Silence: Waiting and lingering in God’s presence. Listening for what God might say.
- Reflection: Stepping back and prayerfully reflecting on God’s presence, interaction, and love.
- Dialogue: Conversation with God. Moments of speaking and moments of silence.
- Community: Praying with others.
- Creation: Praying while engaged in the arts.
By offering many practices and postures, children can more fully enter the presence of God and see that responding to God can take many forms.
Remind them:
God loves us and is present in all the places of our lives!
