Prayer requests

 

Many of us have children in our lives; some are our kids or grandkids, and some are children in our neighborhood, or in our church family. These little ones are so important - they should be just as loved by us as they were by our Savior.

People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16  But Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'" (Luke 18:15-17, NIV)

Children often imitate the behaviors of those around them. They are pretty watchful, and they take in a lot of things that we may not even think they notice! If they witness parents and grandparents (or neighbor-friends) joyfully and lovingly working on a relationship with Jesus, there's a much greater chance of them also knowing Christ.

Including them in prayer time is a wonderful example. It's good to remind children that God speaks to us from the Bible as we read, and that we have the privilege of talking to Him in our prayers. Reading a short passage from the Word is a great start, especially some of the stories and Biblical characters that we are familiar with. We can keep it simple and talk with them about the verses. Ask them how they think the characters in the story felt. Children have wonderful imaginations and their answers may just surprise you!

Ask them to sit with you for a few moments in silence. They will no doubt be watching you, so sit peacefully, with a gentle smile. If you are outdoors, ask them to listen to the wind in the tree leaves, the insects' or birds' songs, or the sound of water. Let them understand that we know God is present in all things.

Lastly, speak a prayer aloud; again, simplicity is best. Let the child hear how frankly and openly you speak to our Father; let them hear the friendship there. Trust that the Spirit will work in their hearts from the seeds you have planted.

If you have a prayer request, please leave a comment to let us know how we may pray along with you.