Search

Teaching Kids to Pray Aloud and Through Song

Please note that Future Flying Saucers uses affiliate links.

Share with your friends!

 

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father. ~ Ephesians 5:18-20

Teaching Kids to Pray Aloud

“But what about praying in one’s prayer closet? Aren’t we supposed to keep our prayers to ourselves? Isn’t my relationship between only God and myself?”

Yes.

And no.

Just as there is a time for everything else in the world, there is a time for praying quietly and a time for praying aloud. There is a time for singing and dancing before the Lord, and a time to cease.

Prayer is voicing our needs and desires to the Father. Praise is declaring the wonders and great deeds of God. Petitioning is asking things of God.

See the pattern?

Why Pray Aloud?

I cannot stress enough how important it is to pray aloud with your children. For one thing, teaching them to pray aloud will help them listen to themselves. As we hear our own words, many times our hearts and attitudes will change.

Think of when you “talk out” or “rant” about a situation. Usually by the time you “get it out of your system” you are calm, maybe you’ve figured out a solution, or you’ve realized you’re wrong about something. The same thing happens when we “rant” to God.

If you haven’t ever ranted aloud to God, then you should. It is so amazing how the Holy Spirit will guide your thoughts and attitudes because, really, we don’t know how to pray for ourselves.

Why Have Kids Pray Aloud?

Attitudes towards praying aloud can be a spiritual thermometer. If your child regularly prays aloud, and then one day refuses to pray, that is a red flag, and you can have a good spiritual discussion about what is going on.

The same goes for you. Are you willing to pray aloud? If not, search your heart for why you won’t.

Why Sing?

Scripture tells us to sing. We can sing praise, thanksgiving, and worship. I’m not saying you need to go join the choir. Some voices aren’t made for that type of singing. Singing with the radio, or turning on gospel bluegrass on Sunday mornings, sure can put you into the worship mood!

Kids make up their own songs all the time. Encourage them to come up with their own worship songs. If music really isn’t your thing, while memorizing Bible verses, put the words to different rhythms. Not only does it help memorization, it is fun!

But What if I’m too Shy to Sing or Pray Aloud?

I may ruffle feathers here, but I say…do the hard thing. Pray aloud anyway. I’m an introvert. I don’t do well in front of crowds. I become very nervous. Just like anything else worth doing, praying out loud takes PRACTICE! The more you do it, the less nervous you will be.

I LOVE to pray aloud. Why? Because I’m talking to my Jesus, who saved me from the pit of hell. Shouldn’t we be willing to pray in front of other people? Isn’t the whole point of the gospel to spread it unto all nations? Others can’t know the gospel unless we TELL it to them and prayer is one way of doing that.

Think about it….

The enemy knows the power of prayer…so of course he wants you to be scared of praying in front of others. He wants you to think you won’t say the “right” words. He will place any thoughts he can in your mind to squelch communication with your God.

I say to you, stop it!

Stop allowing the enemy to steal your prayer power!

Pray aloud!! SING!!! Even in your prayer closet! Be the one who steps up to pray for a meal in your house. Be the one to step up and pray on Sunday mornings at church. Be the one whom people will defer to for prayer when no one else in the room will pray aloud. BE the ONE who prays.

People will notice.

And so will your kids.

They will follow your lead.

Verses to Help Us Pray Aloud and Sing to God:

Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” ~ Exodus 33:18

Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. ~ 1 Samuel 2:1

I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. ~ Psalm 7:17

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. ~ Psalm 57:9

“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” ~ Matthew 21:22

So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” ~ John 11:41

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. ~ John 14:26

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; ~ Romans 8:26

Now Pray!

Please practice praying out loud with your children. You will be absolutely amazed at how your spirits will entwine and a sweet time of worship will take place. Insist on your children praying. You will not be disappointed.

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

prayer{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.}

CAUGHT IN THE

What to teach next spiral?

Sign up below for three lessons from the Victory in Jesus book you can use now to jump start your object lesson Bible teaching plan. 

bible object lessons

We help Creative Bible Teachers to train children and youth by using Object Lessons.

Scan for free lessons
what god is doing

Sign up below for a Sample LESSON from What God is Doing: Old Testament Object Lessons for Kids (16 pages!). 

Have you read these yet?