How to Lead Kids to a Meaningful Connection with God

The kids dash through meal-time prayer faster than they devour their fries. And bedtime prayers are muttered, half-hearted and half-awake … just like their parents’ prayers …

Honestly, it’s hard not to fall into mindless habits with prayer. We lead ourselves to the water but don’t really drink, missing the opportunity to truly connect with God. We are earnest in our prayers, mostly when we want or need something.

But prayer is a powerful tool God uses to change us. So, how can we be more disciplined in our prayer life? How can we long for this special time? And how can we pass that longing to our kids?

You are my God. I worship you.
In my heart, I long for you,
as I would long for a stream
in a scorching desert.

Psalm 63:1 (CEV)

One way to motivate us is to pay attention to how prayer changes things. Keep track of answered prayers in a journal, or be creative: try tracking God’s answers on paper leaves and placing them on a poster-board tree.

Remember that prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue. Teach your kids to pause and listen. Pay attention to times when God fills your or your child’s heart with compassion for a person or issue. See that as an invitation to pray.

Another idea is to change your posture and practices to find new ways to pray or to stay focused. Hold your palms down while confessing things you want to get rid of in your life. Hold your palms up when asking for things. Try breath prayers, where you repeat and ponder a phrase while you breathe in and out, such as, “Abba (Daddy), I belong to you.” Walk your neighborhood with your kids and pray together for the families, speaking out loud and with eyes open. Pray for the deployed while driving past the airfield. Pray for your military member while standing in front of their office or motor pool.

Above all, ask the Lord how to make prayer a meaningful discipline for your children. Be assured he will meet them when they try.

PRAY

Father God, may we all want to be with you, experience you, and speak with you face to face. Lord, please help me have a good connection with you and model it for these kids. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): Do you like to talk to God? How do you feel about prayer?

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand their Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

2 Chronicles 7:14

1 John 5:14-15