"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength. And you must commit yourself wholeheartedly to these commands which I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children, talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up." Deut. 6:5-7One of the most solemn, yet beautiful, tasks a christian parent has is to teach their child to pray.
It is a holy obligation to help them love their heavenly Father. By folding a child's little hands together and bowing downy heads, parents teach the small soul that praying is something very special. Long before they are old enough to pronounce the prayerful words, children can be encouraged to express reverence for God by copying the posture of their parents.
For example, they quickly link the action of bowing heads in thankgiving around the dinner table with the exclamation of "Amen!"
Before too long they will be asking to say grace on behalf of the family and be very vocal with their sweet prayer-which might include many thanks and requests for things totally unrelated to food!!
If patience is shown in these early days the child will develop a natural desire to bring things to the Lord in prayer. Especially if they see and hear their parents and older siblings doing so with faith and enthusiasm.
They will want Mum or Dad to listen to their night prayers and be unsettled until their day ends with a gathering at their bedside. As they grow older this regular prayer-time often serves as a gateway for discussion about serious things on their mind. Things which they need clarification on or explanation; such as scripture verses or questions about the nature of God.
Perhaps a behavioural problem will be addressed in the quiet moments before sleep and forgiveness sought for mis-demeanors. It can be a powerful teaching time if a parent has the will to spend a few moments waiting on the Lord. He may well open the door for ministry to the young person who wishes to unburden themselves to Mum or Dad at night-time.
It's a mistake to rush these moments to get back to the tv or whatever leisure activity we may be planning to enjoy. Many secrets of a childs heart are brought to the Light in the dimness of evening prayers.
What a great privilege it is to lead a little one to the throne of God!
When all else falls away, the knowledge of God and the desire to seek Him in prayer will carry them through life's trials and joys. Even if the world pulls them off the path, that which we sow into their spirit when young will produce a fruitful harvest in it's season.
More important than teaching them mathematics or science.
More fulfilling than sports or the arts or toys.
More gratifying than food or clothes or any material thing we can provide.
One of the greatest legacies and the most powerful possession we can pass on to our children is the ability to pray!
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
blessings..Trish
linking to http://raisinghomemakers.com.blogspot.com/
So very true, indeed! It is morning here in Ohio & I am blessed to have read your post as part of my morning. I think as Christians we have become irreverent in many ways, including how we pray. Truly it is a habit that can be established from the beginning. Thank you for sharing these truths. May you be richly blessed :D
ReplyDeleteRejoicing In Him, Patrizia
Trish,
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful post. I wish that I had some children to teach them the precious beauty of prayer.
Blessings,
-Lady Rose
What a beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteOur 3 year old now is able to pray all by herself (she started a while ago) She will ask for the blessing at the table, put also take initiative to pray all throughput the day. It's a blessing to see and hear!
A few week ago she came behind me and stop bowed her head and stated praying out loud, because she is 3 and her vocabulary is somewhat limited I wasn't sure what she was praying about but then after her "Amen" she proceed to ask something that I do not let her do all the time, so she prayed before asking me permission to do something, how sweet is that!
Our almost 2 years old will fold her hand and say a loud amen when we say it's time to pray
A child like faith, I'm learning so much from them!!!
Renee
Thanks for leaving your sweet comment on my blog and I LOVE your blog name:-)
What a wonderful reminder...thank you for sharing your heart!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Joy
What a privilege it is to teach our precious children to pray! Thanks for sharing this beautiful post :)
ReplyDeletePrecious Trish.......love what you had to say and that is one of my favorite verses. Duet. Love it and raised our children on it!!! Thank you for this post. I have grandchildren now.......teaching them when they are with.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and have a wonderful weekend!
Linda
Oh yes, this is so, so true. Thank you for this beautiful reminder.
ReplyDelete