We live in a culture where self sufficiency is a sign of success. When children
are young, we teach them to dress and feed themselves without the help of anyone.
Remember the look on your child’s face when he/she accomplished these tasks!
In school, teachers move children into independent activities and thinking. In our
efforts to create autonomous, decision-making people, we also need to lead them
to understand the need for dependence, too. We all should be dependent upon God.
Just as our little ones begin to develop relationships with family members and others,
they need to develop a relationship with God, too.
The first understanding children have of God is that we pray to God. Most often,
they pray before a meal, at night before bedtime, and at church on Sunday morning,
but children need to know that you may pray anytime anywhere. In their understanding,
God must be important, because His name is spoken daily, but He doesn’t have a cell
phone like everyone else. We have to use other means of talking with God and that is
through prayer in a praying posture.
Children frequently are taught that bowing our heads and clasping our hands is the
way of communicating with the Holy One. Children need to see older children, youth,
and adults praying so that they begin to understand the value, need, and joy of praying.
When you ask children why someone is a best friend, they will tell you that it is because
they like the person and want to be with them as much as possible. So it is with God.
In order for God to become your best friend, you must spend time with Him. The more
time you spend with God, the better your relationship with God will become. Teach
children that prayer is two-way communication with God, not just a Santa Claus list
of
wants. John Calvin says that prayer is an expanding of our hearts in the presence of
God.
The following types of prayers are shown in language a child can understand. They
may be prayed separately, or they may be parts of one prayer.
Wow Prayers are also called prayers of adoration and tell God how
awesome God is.
Oops Prayers are also called prayers of confession and tell God how
sorry we are for what we’ve done.
Thanks Prayers tell God that we recognize God’s gifts to us and how
thankful we are.
Help Prayers are also call prayers of intercession and ask for help for
others. Our heart goes out for others.
Gimme Prayers are also called prayers of petition and ask God to help us.
It’s never too late to begin praying for and with children. Help them to know the joy
of
a relationship with God.
