Clearly, the Lord values and encourages the prayers of His children-no matter what their age. Jesus, at age 12, found Himself needing to be in His Father's house. Samuel learned to discern the voice of God as a young boy. Josiah became king as an eight-year-old. In 2 Kings 23:25, Scripture says of him: "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did-with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses." As a teenager, he wept before the Lord in repentance for the actions of his ancestors.
If our children are the recipients of these wonderful biblical legacies of praying children, why are they in the back room watching videos and playing games while the adults are doing the work of prayer in the sanctuary? This communicates to the adults that children are "just practicing." It communicates to the children that their prayers are not as important to God as adult prayers.
When we relegate children to the "practice fields of prayer," we rob them of their rightful heritage as prayer warriors. An early example of this can be found in Mt. 21:15-16: "But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area,'Hosanna to the Son of David,'they were indignant. 'Do you hear what these children are saying?' they asked him. 'Yes,'replied Jesus,'have you never read,"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise"?'" If we will let them, our young people will teach us how to worship the Most High God! They will lead the way in prayers of praise and intercession!
The prophet Joel says, "Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast" (Joel 2:15-16). The passage reminds us that even the very young are called by God to repentance and prayer. Seeking the face of God is not reserved only for those who have age or experience in the body of Christ. It is for all of God's children.
Resources for Teaching Children How to Pray
By Nancy Sutton
Editor, PrayKids!
When Children Pray (Multnomah)
by Cheri Fuller
his book offers inspiration to parents and children's workers who are convicted of the need to train up children into people who will make prayer a vital part of their lives. Your heart will be encouraged as you read the stories of how children are making a difference in the world through their commitment to prayer. Fuller also has filled the book with an abundance of ideas can be easily adapted to a home, church, or Christian school setting. The book's resource list is an added gold mine of books, publications, videos, and websites from around the world. It's an uplifting, powerful book for anyone who works with children.(Available at Christian bookstores.)
Let the Children Pray (Regal Books)
by Esther Ilnisky
Esther Ilnisky believes that children are "the most untapped resource of prayer today, both in the home and in the church worldwide." This easy read will challenge your views of children and prayer.
This book lovingly implores those who work with children to cultivate and then release children to be prayer warriors. A key sections is called "How to Mentor and Liberate Children to Pray." Readers will find moving testimonials from children, which attest to the profound impact prayer has had not only on the children themselves, but also on the world.
Finally, "prayertools" (activities and ideas) are listed for "prayground" use.
Give this book to anyone in your church who is considering starting a children's prayer ministry, and watch your church explode with pint-sized prayer warriors. (Available at Christian bookstores.)
Prayer Kids Clubs (Prayer kids Notebook, Prayer Kids Club Leader's Guide)
by Jan Merritt
Prayer Kids Clubs provides materials to help churches start children's prayer groups. They publish the Prayer Kids Notebook, which is designed to encourage, educate, and expand the prayer life of children. The notebooks are used in conjunction with a Prayer kids Club, which consists of two or more kids who meet once a week for prayer. The materials target the elementary-aged child. The Three-ring binder divides materials into four categories: praise, confess, thanks. and asking. One page of teaching on each topic is followed by related Scriptures. Each section concludes with journaling pages. Children can put pictures of the people for whom they are praying in the section at the end to serve as visual reminders.
A Leader's guide is also available, as well as laminated membership cards for each child. (To order;[309] 662-0615.)
Kids P.R.A.Y. "Adopt-a-Leader" and "National Day of Prayer"
(Michigan Prayer network of Michigan Family Forum)
The "Adopt-a-Leader" portion of this curriculam is divided into four lessons that teach children about "who a leader is and what it means to be in a position of authority, how they can pray for their leader, and how they can be effective prayer partners. "The ideas section encourages kids to meet their adopted leader and leads them in how to encourage him or her. Each lesson has a Bible application and several activities. At the end of the curriculum. "Bulletin Board Display Pages" include 25 reproducible prayer focuses for "Adopt-a-leader" unit.
The "National Day of Prayer" unit also consists of four lessons. These lessons help students "grasp the promises concerning prayer in the Bible, our nation's godly heritage, the qualities of a good leader, and how students can be effective in prayer. "Another goal is for children to learn why this day is celebrated each year on the first Thursday of May in our country. Several ideas are provided for celebrating the National Day of Prayer in a class or school. (To order: [800] 444-8828.)