“Dear Lord, please help us have a good night sleep. Like really good. Like I wanna sleep like a rock, and feel like I slept for like a year. Help us sleep so good we are rested for tomorrow. I pray for deep, deep sleep so we don’t wake up tired. Like super deep sleep. Amen.”
That’s a lotta “likes,” eh?
Prayers like this tend to frustrate me.
I love that my kids pray, and that family prayers are part of our day. I appreciate my kids wanting good sleep. I’ve taught them they can ask for anything in Jesus’ name.
But this request became the meat of their prayers at bedtime. Like every night.
Same words, same content, growing impatience on my part.
Do your kids get stuck in a rut with their prayers, too? Ask yourself:
- Are they reciting the same prayers over and over again?
- Do they rush through them like they’re a chore?
- Do they pray with little passion or emotion?
- Are their prayers becoming routine and stale?
I think it’s common, but I also think it’s complacency at its finest.
We have the awesome opportunity to speak to the God of Creation… the One who thought us up… the One who planned the timing of our entrance into the world… the One who keeps track of the Kingdom calendar… the One who blesses His children…
… and honestly, we need to take that privilege seriously.
Do. You?
Because what I find is that my 10 and 11 year old kids mimic me. The good and the bad.
They hold doors open for complete strangers and look for ways to complement others because I do.
But they also make “comments” to people who are driving too slow, and adopt common phrases I use every day, like… “True story, dude.”
Our kids listen to us. Watch us. Do what we do. So if we want our kids to have a prayer life that is full and rich, we need to model it.
What do your kids hear you praying about?
Do you change it up, covering a variety of topics?
Do you encourage them to “pray about it” when they are struggling?
Seriously. It’s so easy to fall into a prayer rut. But when we do, we’re disconnecting from the heart of prayer.
The heart of God.
Maybe it’s time to breathe new life into your prayers. Their prayers.
Here are some suggestions to help your children have prayer life that connects their heart to Gods:
- Model it for them. When you pray, show them how to do it.
- Talk about things they could cover in prayer so they’re praying about current situations (issues with friendships, sick classmates, upcoming tests, etc.)
- Change your prayer position. Maybe start praying on your knees or holding hands.
- Find some appropriate scripture you can pray together over a situation.
- Teach your kids that talking to God throughout the day is prayer, too!
- Remind them there is nothing they can’t talk to Him about.
- In your own prayer time, ask God to establish a strong prayer life in your kids.
- Have everyone close their eyes so they can avoid distractions and focus better.
- Point out answered prayers!
Ultimately, our kids will establish their own prayer-relationship with God. But as parents trying to raise Godly kids, we have the responsibility to train them now.
So friends, beware the prayer rut. The Enemy would like nothing more than to diminish the power and importance of prayer in your life… and in the lives of your children.
How do you keep prayers fresh in your home?
©2015 Carey Scott
Great suggestions for helping to “teach” my children on how to pray with passion, authority, and friendship with the Lord.
{Kathy} Some think that prayer is something that should be spontaneous and unstructured. However, I’m with you—it’s a skill that can be taught, so that it is more fulfilling.