Put It Into Practice
As the primary faith trainer of your child, start today by implementing the following reminders:
Remember the Impact
Praying with your child will strengthen your relationship with them, nurture strong faith within them, and reduce the level of tension in your home. As pastor and author Will Davis Jr. put it, “There’s something blessed about a child who the last thing they hear every night is the sound of their parents praying over them.” Start the routine in your home tonight.
Be an Example
Allow your child to see and hear you pray on a regular basis. Take time to stop and give thanks in times when God blesses you or answers a prayer. Model prayer in times of difficulty or when seeking wisdom for important decisions. Pray for those in your family or those you know who are in need.
Use Jump-Start Prayers
Take turns allowing each person who is comfortable doing so to pray a very short, one-sentence prayer. It can be as simple as “Please heal Uncle Paul,” “Thank you for giving Troy a new friend,” or “I’m sorry for losing my temper with everyone earlier today.”
Use fill-in-the-blank language to guide and focus prayer times, such as the following starter lines:
“God, I love you because…”
“Thank you, God, for…”
“God, please help…”
“God, I’m sorry for…”
