by Joanne Gilchrist, writer and founder of Ruach Resources

Praying to our heavenly Father comes naturally for some kids and to others it seems strange. But all kids learn by copying the words you use, the body language you adopt and even your tone of voice.

Perhaps we could all be more intentional? Here are 3 ideas of ways you can pray together to encourage communication and connection both with each other and with your heavenly Father.

First, three things to consider about prayer

1. YOU CAN PRAY TO GOD ANYWHERE

There’s nowhere we can go from God’s Spirit, as the Psalmist says (Psalm 139:7-8). Jesus told the woman at the well that the time was coming (and is here now) when worship wouldn’t be about WHERE we worship, but about the attitude with which we worship. (John 4:23-24)

2. KEEP IT SIMPLE

Like Jesus said, prayer is not about trying to impress anybody (Matthew 6:5-8). The more complicated your prayers are, the more fearful a child might become thinking ‘I can’t pray like that’. However, if your prayers are simple, real and heartfelt, your child might think ‘I can do that’.

3. IS IT DISTRACTION OR STIMULATION?

In Victorian times, classrooms had high windows so kids wouldn’t get distracted from their lessons by looking outside. Sometimes we can focus better on prayer when we fold our hands, to stop from fidgeting (or picking up our phone!) and close our eyes, to stop from getting distracted. But be aware, a child can have their hands folded and their eyes closed yet still not engage with prayer.

You don’t HAVE to have your hands folded and eyes closed to pray so perhaps what some see as a distraction, could instead inspire and motivate us to pray? We can use anything - especially items from nature - to stimulate our prayers and give us ideas of what to pray. When our family does this, even the most stubborn of our kids, who doesn’t want to pray, can be drawn out of themselves, forget their lack of enthusiasm and find themselves praying - when given enough stimulation.

So here’s 3 ideas to get you started - we would love for you to add your own ideas in the comments!

1. A Baby Massage Prayer of Blessing

“From the top of their heads, to the tips of their toes,

God Bless my baby each day that she grows”

Skin to skin contact is a beautiful way to bond and communicate with your baby (more tips and benefits here). So why not combine this with prayer as a way to bond and communicate with God at the same time?

Look into your baby’s eyes and smile. Use warm, gentle hands, maybe a little ‘Almond Oil’ or ‘Olive Oil’ (if your baby’s skin has no adverse reactions to oil) and as you gently and lovingly touch your baby, pray. Use your own words or mine:

• When you lay down your head, when you go sleep, when you need rest, may you have peace (Psalm 3:3-6) (DO NOT MASSAGE a baby’s head but instead, gently stroke along their cheekbones to under their chin or give a gentle kiss on the nose)

• When you need help, may God lift your head high, to see what God sees, with heaven’s eyes. (Psalm 121:1-2) (Again, Don’t Massage the head but gently stroke the cheekbones.)

• May God embrace you with everlasting arms, He is your refuge, in times of harm (Deuteronomy 33:27)

• May God bless the work of your hands and mine, may they learn to bless others like warm sunshine (Deuteronomy 15:16)

• May you love God with all of your heart, your mind, soul and body, the whole, not in part (Matthew 22:37)

• May God fill your tummy with spiritual bread, because ‘I am the bread of life’ Jesus said (John 6:35) (Massaging small, gentle circles on baby’s lower tummy, in a clockwise direction, can help with constipation)

• May God give you strength in each leg and each knee, to walk in his ways, and be strong like the tree (Psalm 1:1-3)

• May your feet take the gospel wherever you go, such beautiful feet, with such beautiful toes (Isaiah 52:7)

• From the top of her head to the tip of her toes, May God bless my baby, each day that she grows

• From his top to his bottom, from his feet to his nose, May God bless my baby wherever he goes

(c) Joanne Gilchrist April 2020

2. A Nature Walk To Connect with God (TODDLER age and over)

“We’re going on a nature walk… what will we find? Can we follow the clues that God left behind?”

“We’re going on a nature walk… what will we find? Can we follow the clues that God left behind?”

If you walk through your garden, or the local park, ask God to inspire your prayers through natural things you see along the way. Maybe search for that item in the Bible app and see what the Bible says?

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Grass is green, the colour of calm, easy on the eyes, God’s gift of charm - “Thank you God that you put beauty in the world as reflection of your own beauty, to calm my soul.”

• The grass may be tall but it doesn’t last long, but God’s love is forever, God’s word is strong. “Dear God, the grass, like so many other things in nature, has such a short life cycle, but your word lasts forever.” (Isaiah 40:8). “Sometimes we may seem small compared to how big you are, God, but your love for us lasts forever.” (Psalm 103:15-18)

• Around my face I feel a cool breeze, it tickles my nose and makes me sneeze. “You are like the wind God, I may not see you but I can see and feel the changes you make when you are around” (John 3:8)

• Look at the birds, how happy they sing, our heavenly Father, gives them everything. “Thank God for your provision for me. Teach me to count my blessings, notice the small things, be grateful for everything and trust you for the future.” (Matthew 6:26-27)

• A tree is strong and some trees bear fruit, may my faith be strong from my head to my root. “Teach me God to love your word and your ways, to grow strong and fruitful like a tree, rooted in Christ Jesus and not wavering in the storms of life.” (Psalm 1)

Nature can reveal to us something about the character of our creator God if we take a moment and pay attention.

CAN YOU THINK OF OTHER WAYS THAT NATURE HAS LEFT CLUES FOR US TO FOLLOW AND FIND GOD?

• Early in the morning, Jesus rose to pray, the sunrise is faithful, it rises every day (Mark 1:35),

• A rainbow reminds us that God’s word is true, when God makes a promise, that’s what God will do (Genesis 9:13-15)

• there’s a river in heaven that flows from God’s throne, thank you God for the river, thank you God I’m not alone (Revelation 22:1-2),

• the ocean is a wonder, that reminds me of God’s awe, praise bubbles up inside me and I want to know Him more (Psalm 148:7),

• the sky is a reminder, that one day Jesus will come back, on the clouds of heaven, till then I’ll keep on track (Acts 1:11),

• the soil is like our hearts and God’s word is like a seed, is my heart wide open or is it cluttered full of weeds? (Luke 8:15),

• the stars declare God’s glory, they’re such an awesome sight, majesty and mystery, burning through the night (Psalm 8),

• and when I see a creature like a lamb or a sheep, I remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for me (John 1:29)

• and that Jesus is a shepherd, the best kind that there is, He loves me and cares for me, He even calls me His. (John 10:11-18)

(c) Joanne Gilchrist April 2020

3. God through the Alphabet (any age from 3 to 99 - the older they get, the more creative this can be!)

“Praise You God because you are………………!”

Take it in turns to fill in the blanks with characteristics of God beginning with each letter of the alphabet.

This is a great way to begin a family worship time; it’s sets the tone of praise and can change the atmosphere from one of negativity to wonder even with adults.

A - Awesome / Amazing / Almighty …

B - Beautiful / Brilliant / Bountiful

C - Creative / Caring / Courageous

D - Delightful / Daddy / Deliverer

E - Eternal / Everlasting / Exciting

F - Friendly / Father / …

You get the idea….

#You can whisper in a cloud to him

You can pray when you’re alone with Him

You don’t have to pray out loud to Him He knows your thoughts #

Song Lyrics from: ‘Did you ever talk to God above’ by Frances Towle Rath

If you’d like more prayer ideas for you and your family, please leave a comment or share your ideas below - any inappropriate or offensive comments will be removed. Obviously!