“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)
“Momma?” The voice is tiny, hesitant, and afraid. I try not to bang my toe on the toy in the middle of my floor but somehow forget that there are three more past it. I hobble to her bedside and she grabs a hold of me with tears in her eyes. “Momma, I had a bad dream, and I’m scared to go to sleep. Will you pray that He will just take them all away?” So, I do. I pray for rest, protection over her room, and for His incredible joy to overflow her little heart and saturate her dreams. There’s a noticeable relief in her room…one that can only come from Him.
I decide to stay put for a while, mostly because I’m too tired to get back up, but also because I’m remembering. Remembering the very first time this happened, when she was able to vocalize why she had woken up in the middle of the night. The fear of the dark is a tangible thing. When fear invades our thoughts, and we have no control over it, it can be paralyzing. By His grace, I knew from the beginning, that the answer was prayer. That only in Him do we have power over the darkness. I simply had to teach her the same.
Pray About Little Things
As a first time momma, it was surprising to me how quickly she latched on to praying. I deeply desired for prayer to come as naturally as breathing and how else do I teach that but by example? We prayed over bad dreams, wanting apples at the market, for rain, and everything in between. As we walked and noticed blooming flowers, we prayed a prayer of thankfulness. As we saw people going to the hospital, we prayed for their health. As we drove up to church, we prayed for those who were coming and those who weren’t.
How do we teach our children to pray over small things…over all things? We teach by doing it and they follow our example. I do not want my girls to pray only because they hear me pray, but I do believe that through their prayers they will witness His power. My oldest has seen the Lord provide and she has made the connection to prayers that she has prayed – without me saying a single word.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) – emphasis mine
I believe that praying over the “small” things is vital because it’s how my ongoing relationship with the Lord is deepened. It helps me to be in continual conversation, “praying without ceasing”, with the Father. And our kids need to learn this as well.
Why do we try to make it complicated?
Prepare to Pray!
Look back at some of the examples of prayer in this article. Have your child think of an example in his, or her, own life that seems small.
Do you have older children? Have them read through the following verses and choose one or two. Taking the narrow road, or recognizing that our faith is small, is a first step in moving mountains one prayer at a time. It’s our prayers of little things which reflect the widow’s mites which pleased Jesus the most.
Click on the image below to print FREE PRAYER CARDS. Choose the age-appropriate printable for your children and print on card stock. Grab a pen and write down the chosen verses, or have your child write them down.
Verses About Praying for Small Things:
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” ~ Matthew 7:13-14
He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” ~ Matthew 13:31-32
And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury” ~ Mark 12:41-43
Now Pray!
Encourage your children to not just read or say the words, but to pray them from the heart.
Click on the image below for more articles in this series.
{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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Nickolee is married to her best friend, mom to two outdoor loving, joy filled gals (5 & 2), and teaches kindergarten. Her family served overseas in Madagascar before the Lord called them back home to Mississippi. She is a firm believer in being a missionary wherever the Lord has planted your feet and that no matter what “it will be glorifying”. Head on over and visit her blog – Grace & Chocolate Milk – to find out about how God works all things for His glory – through marriage, children, ministry, mistakes, and life.
