It is not enough to pray for children alone; parents also need to teach their children to pray.
Children need to learn to pray for themselves when they are not feeling too well, when they are alone when they are about to go to bed, start their day, have their meals, and so on.
The Bible in Proverbs 22 verse 6 “Train up a child in the way that he should go; when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
At first glance, this passage is a promise every God-fearing parent wants fulfilled in the life of their children.
Benefits of teaching children to pray
A couple of reasons to teach them to pray is. First, we can’t always be around them at all times, so we pray to God to send His guiding angel at every moment so they can get the necessary help they need and that they can be protected from danger.
The above verse in the book of Proverbs emphasizes the need to give guidance and instruction to our children on not just life activities and educational activities but also touching spiritual matters. A child who has learned to pray from childhood at least twice daily will not see prayer as a strange exercise when they become a young adult.
Secondly, one of the best legacies we can give to our children is to teach them how to know God genuinely for themselves and how they can build an intimate relationship with God the Father through a strong prayer and meditational life.
Moreover, when we train our children to know the Lord from a young age, we’re assured of rest of mind and that they will not be a source of shame to the family, such as the case was in the case of the Children of Rechab.
If we want to grow (by God’s grace) children who will be uncompromising all through life, teaching them quality prayer life is an essential spiritual recipe.
There are several examples of children who aligned with God from a tender age, and great were their testimonies, to mention a few. We see the example of Samuel the prophet, David the king, Josiah, and Miriam, the boy with the five loaves. In the New Testament, we see the example of Timothy, who served the body of Christ faithfully and became a mighty vessel for honorable use in the hand of the Lord, He states that the joy in the heart of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (1 Timothy 1:5).
The ultimate goal of espousing our children from a young age is to grow in their faith and be a blessing to our families and their generation. We saw how Samuel was dedicated to stewardship in the house of God at a very young age, and he did not go back from serving God throughout his lifetime. How about John the Baptist, who was weaned prophetic that God had given to his parents and went ahead to fulfill the prophecy to be the one who will prepare the way for the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? (Mark 1: 2 to 4).
We need to intentionally nurture our children to see God as their fountain of life and to know that anything we can be or get comes from the Lord (James 1:17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11), be it power, wealth, strength, etc.
Parents who desire their children to excel in all of their life’s endeavors must not just teach them to pray alone but also to become great ambassadors of Christ.
We must teach them to be students of the Word of God, 2 Timothy 2: 15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Joshua 1:8: “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (NLT)
In Proverbs 12:3, scripture says, “…the root of the {uncompromisingly} righteous shall never be moved. “
These are strong scriptures to help them understand that achieving the great future that is ahead of them is not by their strength or intelligence alone by constantly aligning with God’s will in reading the word of God, living a transparent Christian life, and by constant coming to the throne of grace. (Hebrews 4: 16).
7 methods to teach a child to pray
Be their role model
Children often follow what they see their parents do. If you are going to teach your children to live a prayerful and godly life, you must be that example to them. You’re their most powerful influence and they often watch you and copy the things you do, which is why it is important to exemplify a diligent prayer life if you want them to become a prayerist. If you invest too little in your own prayer life and don’t have a pattern of consistent walk with God, then you need to recourse.
Lead them to Christ.
Prayer is a spiritual exercise and a tool for devouts to commune with the Heavenly Father. It is functional when it is adopted by saved and sanctified souls to communicate with God. In essence, children first need to know God and have Him as their strong foundation.
God wants parents to show them, in a simple but in-depth way, all of the sacrifices of Christ on Calvary and how they can maximally benefit from it by first embracing and cherishing the work of grace by our Lord. (Romans 5:8, Hebrews 12: 2, 1 Peter 2: 24 & 25)
Teach them the love of God.
Children need to know the depth of God’s love for humankind, and it should mainly be exemplified through parents demonstrating godly love to their children. As we shower on them much love as their earthly parents and they feel comfortable around us at all times, we should explain to them that in the same God who is our heavenly father wants to fellowship with them constantly, little wonders Christ said in Matthew 19: 14 “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” We should tell them how much more God knows them, loves them, and wants to have them around.
Organize prayer into their daily activities.
Make prayer a regular part of your child’s day, such as before meals and bedtime. – “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1)
Teach them how to have a Personal Connection with God
Help your child understand that prayer is a conversation with God, where they can express their thoughts, feelings, and needs. – “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12
Corporate family devotions and prayer
Praying together fosters unity and reinforces the importance of communal worship.- “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20
Share testimonies when God answers your prayers.
When prayers are answered, celebrate with your child(ren), reinforcing the power and faithfulness of God. – “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17
Prayers for Children
Father, teach us to teach our children how to be in a profound relationship with you.
Father, save them so they can be a formidable force in the world of darkness.
Lord, help us use every opportunity we get to explain God’s love and the sacrifice he has made for the salvation of humankind through the Saviour.
