Tips for Teaching Your Child to Pray

When I was a child, I thought prayer was so boring. Like many today, I did not want to pray unless I was in trouble or I wanted something from God. I grew up with a single mother who was and still is a devout Christian. She had a very strong prayer life. It was common for my siblings and I to find my mom on her knees in prayer during early mornings or late nights. I distinctly remember waking up in the middle of the night to my mother standing over me, anointing my head with oil and praying in the Holy Ghost. In addition to attending prayer meetings regularly at church, we had family prayer at least once a week. In efforts to speed things up, we would volunteer to pray. My mother was a very long-winded prayer warrior!

Back then, I didn’t realize what she was doing.  Now I understand, she was teaching us a valuable lesson and biblical principle of communicating with God. We learned to call on the name of the Jesus Christ, at a very young age. This lesson literally saved my life. I remembered to pray while suffering a near death experience when I was 19 years old.  I called on the name of the Lord and he rescued me. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,”Romans 10:13.

I am so grateful to have a mother who lived a life of prayer and faith. My mom taught me one of the greatest lessons of my life. No education or material thing can be compared to it. She laid a spiritual foundation in me that cannot be moved. We endeavor to do the same for our children.

As Christian parents, we want to pass on a legacy of faith in Jesus Christ and prayer to our children.  However, it can be difficult knowing where to begin. We have found the following tips to work well for us.

1. Have family prayer. This demonstrates the importance of Christ being the head of the family. There’s nothing like listening to my husband pray for guidance in leading our family. Be sure to allow your children to pray individually during family prayer. “But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”1 Corinthians 11:3

2. Say grace before meals. This makes our children aware that Father God is our provider. “But to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” 1 Timothy 6:17

3. Talk about the importance of prayer and why we pray. This helps our children understand why we pray. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1

4. Live a lifestyle of prayer and faith. This is most important because children pay more attention to what you do than what you say. Our children need to see us praying. It strengthens their faith in God. Remember, more is caught than taught! Set a good example. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

5. Attend prayer meetings at church as a family. This teaches our children the importance of praying with other believers. “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” Acts 1:14

I hope you found these tips to be helpful in teaching your child to pray.

Until my next post……….
“In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6