By Jeff Mendoza
Teaching children to pray doesn’t always work best sitting down at the kitchen table or kneeling by the child’s bed. This summer is a great opportunity to teach your children to pray in a more active way by going outside on family prayerwalks through your neighborhood. The following tips can help you guide your children through a summer full of prayer experiences.
- Be clear about your goal. This is a time to teach your children how to pray in an engaging way. Secondary benefits such as family conversation or exercise may result, however the goal of family prayerwalking is to pray and to teach your children to pray.
- Have realistic expectations of your children, taking into account their ages, attention span, and willingness to pray out loud.
Allow the wonders of God’s creation to lead you to praise and thank Him. As you prayerwalk together:
- Ask your children, “What sounds do you hear?” If they hear birds singing, praise God for the beauty of birds and their ability to sing.
- If your child notices a pretty flower, say, “Let’s thank God for making flowers.”
- As you see different trees, thank God for making trees that give shade from the summer heat or provide us with fruit to eat.
Pay attention to the people you see and offer simple prayers for neighbors as you walk past their homes.
- Jointly ask God to bring your child’s neighborhood friend to know Jesus.
- Invite your children to pray specifically and by name: “Please heal Mrs. Brown from cancer.”
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show your family how to pray for a neighbor—then do it in faith!
When you prayerwalk together, your children will learn to pray by hearing you pray. Encourage them to repeat one of your prayers after you or pray in their own words. Keep it fun and praise God for any growth you witness!
(C) 2024 Prayer Connect magazine
