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Teaching Kids to Pray for the Ability to Forgive Others

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For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. ~ Hebrews 4:15

Teaching Kids to Pray for the Ability to Forgive

Children are growing in maturity and understanding. When young, they do not have a full grasp on human behavior and why people treat others the way they do.

Our kids can be hurt by others unintentionally or intentionally. Turning our children to prayer in such situations will help them to have their hearts healed by the High Priest who has been through as much, or more, than them.

How to Forgive Others Who Unintentionally Hurt Us:

Has your child be excluded? overlooked? rejected? dealt with unfairly? or ignored? Many times these actions happen without the knowledge of those who did the hurting. Accidents happen, and feelings can get hurt.

If this happens, we can lead our child in a prayer that admits the negative feelings toward the person of wrongdoing. Have your child ask the Lord for understanding and the power to not retaliate. Help him to ask for the forgiveness and mercy needed, and for wisdom to solve the issue, if needed.

How to Forgive Others Who Intentionally Hurt Us:

When someone intentionally hurts us, then that is called persecution. People who show our children no mercy, ridicule, and hurtful teasing are purposefully attempting to wound them.

In these situations it is important for us to remind our children that Jesus was ridiculed and persecuted until death. And if our kids are being persecuted because of their relationship with Jesus, then that is fulfillment of scripture.

Have your child pray for wisdom and how to respond in love. Pray with your child. Ask for confirmation. Glorifying Jesus should be the motivation to respond in any situation. Take your time. Do not respond hastily. And if the situation warrants it, contact your pastor, or other adults that should be involved.

Bullying should not be tolerated. However, King Herod and Pilate sure did their share of bullying Jesus. And he remained silent through most of it.

On the cross he took the sins of Herod and Pilate upon himself and then asked the Father to “forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

We must exemplify the same forgiveness. Jesus does not ask us to do the easy thing. He asks us to do what glorifies the Father.

Prepare to Pray!

If you have younger children, you will want to choose one or two verses for them to learn to pray.

Do you have older children? Have them read through the following verses and choose one or two.

Click on the image below to print FREE PRAYER CARDS. Choose the age-appropriate printable for your children and print on card stock.

Scripture Prayer CardsMy Scripture Prayer Cards 3-12 blog

 

 

 

 

 

Grab a pen and write down the chosen verses, or have your child write them down.

Verses to Help Us Forgive Others:

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. ~ Matthew 5: 10-11

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ~ Matthew 5:44-45

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. ~ Matthew 6:14-15

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. ~ Mark 11:25

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ~ Romans 8:35

And we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; ~ 1 Corinthians 4:12

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:10

Now Pray!

Encourage your children to not just read the words, but to pray them.

Click on the image below for all of the articles in this series.

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{All of these verses link to BibleGateway. If you would rather choose a different version of the scriptures, then click the link and choose the version you want.}

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