Teaching A Child To Pray

A simple prayer activity and tips on teaching a child to pray.

On more than one occasion my little girl has expressed to me her desire to pray more frequently. However, she’s also confessed that she doesn’t always know what to pray about and feels as though she prays for the same things over and over again.

I’m so grateful that God so often uses our children to teach us His sweet truths. Through the child like faith of my daughter I was reminded not only of my responsibility in teaching my children the importance of prayer, but also of my own lack of conviction to pray more often myself.  

The truth is that we’re living in some dark days, sweet friend, and we desperately need God’s grace and guidance if we are going to have much peace in this life. Praying for our children and praying with our children is of utmost importance in leading them closer to the Man who died to be their Savior. However, it is equally important that we also faithfully teach them how to pray themselves.

Teaching our children to go to their Heavenly Father first, whether they are struggling in an area or celebrating a joyful moment, will do infinitely more for their souls than our teachings on academic excellence or mastering a certain skill ever can.

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Prayer Activity

My daughter is currently in the beginning stages of reading and therefore not able to read and write long sentences herself yet. A typical prayer journal is a bit too advanced. She’s always been an artistic little lady and loves to draw, so together we had the idea of her drawing pictures that represent people, situations, and things she would like to pray for.

We cut long strips of paper for her to draw on. On the other side of these strips I wrote the names of family and friends that she can be in prayer for each day. We then placed these strips in a jar (that she painted to make it look pretty) and each day she pulls out a strip, looks at both sides and then prays for the family and situations listed on the paper.

This has been a fun and simple way for her to come to God in prayer herself. I pray that her faithfulness to seek God’s face in prayer will strengthen her own faith as she witnesses His direct answers.

Although our prayers may not always be (and quite frequently aren’t) answered in the way we want them to be, God’s ways are higher and so much better than our own. We can rest in simply knowing that our Maker always has our best interests at heart and will answer in a way that is best for us and will bring Him glory.

How To Pray According To The Bible

When teaching our children about prayer it is helpful to go straight to Jesus’ own example in the well- known “Lord’s prayer” passage in Matthew 6.

Here Jesus reminds to have pure motives as we approach God in prayer. If we are simply doing it for show or to make ourselves look good in the eyes of another, our prayers mean absolutely nothing. We’re also told to refrain from “empty phrases” that may sound eloquent but have no depth or genuineness in them.

Friend, Jesus is telling us that it’s not the act of prayer itself that God is after.

He is after our hearts.

If our hearts aren’t in it, then our prayers are in vain.  

Meaning of The Lord’s Prayer Verse By Verse

Jesus then tells us to “pray like this”

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread,
¹² and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.”  (Matthew 6:9-13)

If we dig a little deeper into this famous passage we’re given a clear picture of the heart that God is after. There are two words in these verses that many are unfamiliar with or at least couldn’t provide a solid description for if asked.

The Greek word for “hallowed” in verse 9 is agiastheto which means to make holy, consecrate, or sanctify.

Likewise the word for “Your kingdom” in the original language is basileia meaning kingdom, sovereignty, or royal power.

So if we dissect these first two opening lines of Jesus’ prayer we basically see that we need to acknowledge that:

#1 God is holy.

#2 Our prayers should be in accordance with His sovereign will and not our own.

Jesus’ remaining words encourage us to:

Seek God for His provision (v.11)

Seek His forgiveness for our sin (v.12)

Seek His help in forgiving those who’ve wronged us, that we may not harbor bitterness in our hearts (v.12)

Pray for the strength to overcome temptation. (v.13)

Pray that He will draw us closer to Himself and rescue us from evil. (v.13)

Verse 15 goes on to remind us the importance in forgiving those who’ve wronged us. “If you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

When Teaching A Child To Pray We Must Also Lead Them To God’s Word

I think it’s important to remember that this is simply an outline that Jesus provided for us. Whether we are children or grown adults, the first time we come to God in prayer, we can each feel a bit in the dark as to how to go about it all.

We do not need to come to him with perfected well thought out words. He simply wants to hear from us. I always encourage my daughter to talk to God in the same way that she approaches my husband and I in conversation.

God just wants to hear from us.

His love for us is greater than we can fully comprehend. He wants to celebrate our joys. Help us through the trials. Be the focus of our praise. Work in the lives of others in response to our prayers for them.

When our faith is genuine He hears and He is faithful to answer.

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7).

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).

Yes, God is holy (and we are not), and we should come to Him in reverence. However, it is that exact holiness and love He holds for us that has the power to transform our hearts as we come to Him in prayer.  

The Importance of Prayer

Parents, in teaching our children to pray we are teaching them to go to the very One who created them, knows them better than anyone on the planet, and can give them the answers they are seeking. We are teaching them lean on the Creator of the universe for comfort, peace, wisdom, guidance, strength, and forgiveness.

And in doing so we can point them to the Man who died to be their Savior.

Please don’t neglect to pray for your children and teach them God’s truths. He has given us an amazing blessing and responsibility in raising our children. May we do it all in a way that brings glory to our Maker.

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer“ (Romans 12:12.)