march: cued prayers
The Bible is swarming with reminders to pray. We’re told to make it a habit; something we just naturally do. This month’s verse comes from a longer passage in Romans about living faithfully. Paul encourages Christ-followers to change their mindsets and be transformed, and he lays out some ways to do that. The purpose of prayer is transformation - in prayer, we draw close to God so that God can change us. Our consumer culture sometimes distorts God into what I liken to a vending machine. Prayers are the currency we insert, expecting God to pop out whatever button we pushed. God is not a vending machine. We don’t pray to change God; we pray so God can transform us.
Forming habits of prayer with our children transforms us and them. And it gives us an accessible way to “persevere in prayer.” It’s all well and good to say we should pray regularly, but it’s a little daunting! Our January practice was a thanksgiving prayer habit, and this month’s practice, cued prayers, includes supplication (making our requests and needs known to God). Using cued prayer can help us form habits that then infuse our whole lives.
Forming habits of prayer with our children transforms us and them. And it gives us an accessible way to “persevere in prayer.” It’s all well and good to say we should pray regularly, but it’s a little daunting! Our January practice was a thanksgiving prayer habit, and this month’s practice, cued prayers, includes supplication (making our requests and needs known to God). Using cued prayer can help us form habits that then infuse our whole lives.
Read It
Pray It
Jesus, we want to walk with you and be the people you created us to be. Hear our prayers and work in our hearts. Amen.
Jesus, we want to walk with you and be the people you created us to be. Hear our prayers and work in our hearts. Amen.
Do It Simple Cued Prayers
Think through your daily life. What are things you see or sounds you hear frequently? Choose one of these cues to be your call to prayer. Choose what you’ll pray when you hear or see it. It could be something that directly relates, or it could be completely unrelated. Think of a one-sentence, easy-to-remember prayer that you can say out loud. Say it every time you hear or see the cue. Soon your child will be saying it with you. Once you’re in a routine with that call to prayer, consider adding another. Note that while you can bow your head and close your eyes, that’s not the only way to pray! Jesus would have prayed with his eyes open and head raised. It’s okay for the prayer to just be spoken in the moment.
Here are some ideas for calls and prayers:
* When you hear an emergency vehicle: God, be with the people who need help. This was our family’s first call to prayer, and our 10-year-old still pauses to pray when he hears a siren!
* When you hear a train: God, I want to be kind.
* When you see a particular tree by your house: God, help me care for your creation.
* When you stop at a red light: God, I pray for (name of a person who needs prayers).
* When you sit down to eat: God of our past, present and future, dwell with us today. (praying before a meal may seem like a matter of course, but developing a short prayer you can all say together can make it more meaningful)
Think through your daily life. What are things you see or sounds you hear frequently? Choose one of these cues to be your call to prayer. Choose what you’ll pray when you hear or see it. It could be something that directly relates, or it could be completely unrelated. Think of a one-sentence, easy-to-remember prayer that you can say out loud. Say it every time you hear or see the cue. Soon your child will be saying it with you. Once you’re in a routine with that call to prayer, consider adding another. Note that while you can bow your head and close your eyes, that’s not the only way to pray! Jesus would have prayed with his eyes open and head raised. It’s okay for the prayer to just be spoken in the moment.
Here are some ideas for calls and prayers:
* When you hear an emergency vehicle: God, be with the people who need help. This was our family’s first call to prayer, and our 10-year-old still pauses to pray when he hears a siren!
* When you hear a train: God, I want to be kind.
* When you see a particular tree by your house: God, help me care for your creation.
* When you stop at a red light: God, I pray for (name of a person who needs prayers).
* When you sit down to eat: God of our past, present and future, dwell with us today. (praying before a meal may seem like a matter of course, but developing a short prayer you can all say together can make it more meaningful)
Explore it: A Note from Tami
Young children perceive the world with a small world view of the immediate and present. Prayer will only become a meaningful habit for a child if it seems relevant. So - Capitalize on this very normal stage of development by focusing prayer on kids’ everyday concerns and the immediate surroundings.
Praying with Kids: Supplication This article provides a foundation for how we pray and especially how we pray with our children. It also includes specific suggestions that are helpful for teaching our older children.
Toddler Prayer Short simple prayers are most effective for young children. The ideas on this blog point out how we can help them see how they can talk with God anywhere, anytime.
Young children perceive the world with a small world view of the immediate and present. Prayer will only become a meaningful habit for a child if it seems relevant. So - Capitalize on this very normal stage of development by focusing prayer on kids’ everyday concerns and the immediate surroundings.
Praying with Kids: Supplication This article provides a foundation for how we pray and especially how we pray with our children. It also includes specific suggestions that are helpful for teaching our older children.
Toddler Prayer Short simple prayers are most effective for young children. The ideas on this blog point out how we can help them see how they can talk with God anywhere, anytime.