Name: ICHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-05T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-07T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Bourbonnais, IL

Tagged: Prayer

This topic has 13 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 2 months ago by csmamma.

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)

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March 5, 2011 at 4:13 am
LindseyD
Participant
Just wondering how you help children become comfortable praying on their own.
Our children have seen us praying and we have prayed as a family their entire lives, but we can’t seem to help them get over their fear or embarassment or discomfort in praying themselves. My ds7 prays at lunch everyday, and dd5.5 prays at supper. They both say the exact same prayer every time, and I try to encourage them to pray about one new thing. Same thing at bedtime.
I just want them to understand that we can talk to God about anything.
Blessings,
Lindsey
March 5, 2011 at 7:42 am
Linabean
Participant
I started with getting them to think of one thing to be thankful for every night at our family time. Then they would “tell God” what they were thankful for…. and that is prayer! When they start to see after a while that saying thank you to the Lord is as simple and natural as saying thank you to Mom or Dad then they start adding in other little things as well. Plus it just helps them to really see how much God has done for us and that then cultivates a thankful heart to the Lord, which then helps to cultivate an atmosphere of praise, which is a form of prayer. It is good for them to see the connections between these things and the simplicity (but also great importance) in them all. Then it doesn’t seem as intimidating and they will have a starting place to grow from.
I don’t know if that was clear or not, I am tired, it is late here and I have had a pretty tiring day. I don’t know why I am still up!
If you want me to try to clarify in the morning, just ask! This is a very important issue that can be taught in a very gentle manner and one that I have been personally putting effort and thought into as well, so I would like to help if I can!
God Bless!
Miranda
March 5, 2011 at 3:28 pm
kainklan
Member
I was just thinking about something on these lines this a.m. in reading I Samuel 3… Samuel hears the voice of God but doesn’t know it is God calling, and vs. 7 says, Samuel did not yet know the Lord , nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him. I think the text demonstrates to us how Eli was modelling for S how we as parents can encourage our children to respond to God’s voice. We as parents need to encourage spiritual development . Parents are to encourage our children to listen for the Lord’s voice (Matt 11v.25, John 10 v.27, 18v37) to praise God Ps. 8v.2, Matt. 21v.16) and to love Him (Matt 22v.37.. I think helping (via modelling) our children to recognize and respond to God’s workings is the biggest step in helping them to possess their own spiritual autonomy and faith. I think the scriptures show that the Lord wants us to pour our His Spirit on our children.. (Joel 2 v.28, Acts 2 v. 39) so the responsibility is on us to help them learn to hear God’s voice and respond to His Spirit… HTH……..KK
March 5, 2011 at 4:24 pm
my3boys
Participant
Don’t know if this will help, but….
We pray frequently throughout the day (at meals with Dad, as well). We always pray before we read our Character stories (Missionary and the Millers right now) and at their request I pick a number between 1 and 10. And, I prefer to say to my kids, “Let’s give thanks to God for our day.” I’m hoping that will ‘prompt’ thanking Him first for His love, mercy, forgiveness, etc. Also, I try to ‘talk’ to God when I pray aloud so I don’t sound like I’m trying to be so mature and spiritual:) Anyway, the one that is closest prays. My kids are big on prayer requests (like they hear at church service) so they ask each of us for a prayer request or praise (my 8yo will call on us like at church, “Br. So ‘n So, do you have a prayer request or praise?” Then we share. Usually it is a long list of those we know are unsaved, sick, homeless, missionary families, and that their dad comes home safe from work, etc. I also try to say, “Let’s give thanks for our food,” instead of let’s pray for our food. Our food doesn’t need to be prayed for does it?? IDK, maybe I’m wrong:)
Since you asked this question Lindsey, it gave me a chance to make sure the my 8yo and 5yo knew that they can tell God anything. So, while we were playing War, I asked them. My 5yo was certain we could because He is our Savior and our Father, my 8yo thought it was a trick question (he’s a perfectionist and doesn’t like to be wrong). I whispered to him that He knows everything anyway. I explained that He wants you to tell Him everything….if you are sad, happy, scared, frustrated, thankful, etc….just like your mom and dad wants you to. I also explained that if you can’t tell us (for whatever reason) you can always tell God. I know as a child that I did not feel comfortable talking to my parents, but I knew that I could talk to God. Sometimes He was the only one I had to talk to, so I am thankful that at some point someone (maybe my mom) told me I could.
I’m so thankful for the questions that are asked on this site. They encourage me so much and prompt so many good discussions with my own kids:)
March 5, 2011 at 4:31 pm
my3boys
Participant
So, having gone back to read your post, I don’t even think I answered it. I’m sorry…it’s Saturday.
March 5, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Tukata
Participant
Hi Lindsey,
Are you familiar with Stormie Omartian? She’s the author of the Power of a Praying….wife, husband, parent, etc. She also has a book for children called The Power of a Praying Kid. I just purchased it for my dd as she has been asking for Bible study books. We haven’t gone through it yet, but it looks good! I have really loved the Power of a Praying Wife, so I thought I’d give this a try.
Other things we do – we have a “blessing” jar where we write down names of people we’d like to pray for (family, friends, missionaries, etc.) and then at each meal we rotate who picks a card and then we pray for them. At bedtime we think over our day and do a thankful list of how we have seen God love us that day and each child picks one or two things to pray for. We also pray over everything during the day – someone got hurt? Pray! Something happy just happen? Pray!
A study of the Psalms might help your oldest – David prayed over everything – he laid out his tears, complaints, joys, everything to the Lord.
Anyway, I think the more ways you bring prayer into your home, the more they will feel comfortable praying themselves. Maybe they need to practice with just you or your husband (away from the sibling) if they are shy? Or keep a prayer journal where they privately write prayers until they are comfortable praying aloud?
Looking forward to hearing more answers from others!
Erin

March 5, 2011 at 9:15 pm
missceegee
Participant
One very simple tool we’ve used is this poster – Teach Me To Pray. It’s a simple, visual reminder that the children can carry with them by referring to their own hand.
Thumb – Praise God
Pointer – Confess Sins
Middle – Thank God
Ring – Pray for Others
Pinkie – Pray for Yourself
Palm – Close
This tool has helped our kids dd10 and ds7 more confident in what to include in their prayers and how to do it.
HTH,
Christie
March 5, 2011 at 11:30 pm
my3boys
Participant
I like that Christie. May have to incorporate:)
March 6, 2011 at 12:16 am
MamaSnow
Participant
While there are definetely some great ideas here…I would add being careful not to push it too hard as well. I know with my dd5, if she thinks she is being ‘put on the spot’, she sort of shuts down and won’t do it at all. Same goes if the suggestions you are making come off at all like you are critiqueing their efforts (not saying that you are…but being sort of a senstive perfectionist myself…and now having a dd who is the same way…sometimes I take things a little more personally than perhaps I should.) I still have a little bit of a hang up over doing things that I was ‘forced’ to do or criticized for the way I did them as child – praying out loud in front of others is one of those things. So while yes, absolutely we should be modelling and giving gentle encouragement to help our children learn how to pray…I would say at the same time to be very careful not to be too pushy about it if they aren’t too interested yet…I’d daresay that they will grow into praying more ‘heartfelt’ prayers as they mature in their own personal relationships with Christ.
For what it’s worth…
Jen
March 6, 2011 at 1:40 am
LindseyD
Participant
Love the idea of writing names and things down and drawing one out of a jar!
Also, Christie, thank you for that great, hands-on (literally) way to help them pray. Love that idea as well.
We are most definitely a praying family. We pray at all 3 meals, before bed, and throughout the day, whenever the need arises or if there is a correction issued. Bedtime is when it’s just me (or Dad) and the child, individually, no pressure, just trying to help them be a little more specific in their praying.
Jen, I’m so glad you brought up the point of being pushy. I agree that we must be sensitive to our children’s not wanting to be put on the spot to perform, especially in this important area of spritual growth. I will try to be more sensitive to that as well.
So many great suggestions from all of you (as usual!). Not trying to close the discussion, so please continue with the suggestions, if you have them.
Blessings!
Lindsey
March 6, 2011 at 1:55 am
easybrizy
Participant
What great ideas here! I’ve thought about this myself, Lindsay, with my oldest son who gets frustrated with his prayers being the “same thing every time”. Jesus gave his disciples specific direction when they asked about how to pray, so I think we can follow that example for sure.
From what I can see, Jesus started with praising God for who he is. “Tell God something you love about him.” Then he asked that God’s will would be done. “Ask God to help you do as he pleases.” Then he made supplication for needs. “Is there something you need Jesus to help you with or to provide for you? Go ahead and ask him.” Then he showed by example the need to ask for forgiveness (though, of course, he didn’t need to be forgiven for anything). “Is there something you need to ask God to forgive you for?” Finally, he asked for help in escaping temptation. “Is there something you are struggling with? Ask God to help you.”
This is actually the model I often follow when I’m wandering in my own mind and finding it difficult to focus on prayer.
March 6, 2011 at 2:14 am
LindseyD
Participant
easybrizy,
What you wrote about Jesus teaching us how to pray reminded me of an acrostic I learned when I was younger. You may have heard of it too:
A-Adoration
C-Confession
T-Thanksgiving
S-Supplication
March 6, 2011 at 11:58 am
easybrizy
Participant
I just realized I misspelled your name! I’m sorry, Lindsey!
March 6, 2011 at 2:35 pm
csmamma
Participant
Hi Lindsey. About 10 years ago, I read a little book that changed my life – Praying Gods Word by Beth Moore. It taught how to take the scriptures and turn them into personal, heart-felt dialog with the Lord. My oldest ds, 5 at the time, quickly caught on and started turning his Awana verses into prayer; As his personal relationship with the Lord deepened, the Holy Spirit would spur him on & natural conversation with God became the outflow. We’ve since seen this with our other dc to, though at different measures. I really think prayer is better caught than taught. It sounds like you are doing all you can – including dc in your prayers and being an example to pray without ceasing. Here’s a short article from hstreasures that might be helpful. Also, for us having the children present at prayer meetings and small groups, while also hearing & seeing other kids praying has helped. May you and your family continue to grow in the knowledge and love of Christ! ~ Heather