Raising Children To Pray

And pray in the Spirit in all occasions, with all kids of prayers and requests. With this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18


As parents we can't help but look at how we were raised, what our parents did right or wrong and decide how we will parent our own children. One thing my parents did absolutely right was prayer. My mom especially was a woman of prayer. She taught us to pray about all things which in turn taught us that God cares about the details of our lives.


I can remember praying for lost shoes and toy pieces, always praying when we heard an emergency vehicle siren and praying for the safety of those involved in the incident. We prayed at the dinner table, in the family room, and in the car. Mon taught us the ACTS prayer to help us pray with a purpose. Mom often appeared to be talking to herself while driving, but she was in actuality talking to Jesus.

Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with Jesus, so how do we instill that quality in our children. My answer, pray in front our your kids. Sometimes it's what you do in front of you kids rather than what you say is that they remember most. I have tried to live up to the example that my parents set. My children are not strangers to prayer and have loved using the ACTS prayer. A = adoration C = confession T = thanksgiving S = supplication.

But teaching children to pray and having them understand how important a prayer life is are two different things altogether. Some people believe in a prayer time each day, for me this has never worked, after all I am a busy mom and would often get disturbed or distracted by something else in the home. So I told God that I would live a prayer life. I believe this in the example my mom set, and often I too appear to be talking to myself as I drive!

Living a life of prayer means that anytime and anyplace I am free to talk to my Jesus and when my kids see this they understand a little better the power and beauty of prayer. They know that no matter where they are God is always just a whisper away. He is always listening and ready to hear what they need to say to Him. It could be as simple as a lost shoe or praying for a sick friend. I love listen to my children pray, to hear their thoughts and concerns as they talk to God.

I pray that one day they look back on their childhood prayers and see them as the start of their prayer journey. I thank God for each opportunity I have to pass on the prayer legacy in my family.