Teaching Kids to Pray

A few years ago I heard someone (can’t remember who and I’m sorry if it was you) talking about praying. In a side comment, he said, “I’ve tried to teach my kids to pray, not to say prayers.” That really hit home for me and Kristen and I have stuck that in our parental quiver. What’s the big deal?

*Saying prayers can be detached. Praying is personal.
*Saying prayers can be dictation. Praying is conversational.
*Saying prayers can be a draining duty. Praying is life-giving.
*Saying prayers can be wordy. Praying is silent.
*Saying prayers can be indifferent. Praying is passionate.
*Saying prayers can be scary. Praying is graceful.
*Saying prayers can be about doing. Praying is about being.
*Saying prayers can be remote. Praying is real.
*Saying prayers can be about sounding good. Praying is about what only one person thinks.
*Saying prayers can be easy. Praying is simple.
*Saying prayers can be religious. Praying is relational.

The list could go on (I’d love to hear your thoughts). I know it’s harder to teach them to pray than to teach them to say prayers. I feel like I’m not always the “best” at praying. But when it is all said and done, I want for my kids, my family, for you, for me, to know and be known intimately by a loving Savior, not just to have checked a “to-do” off my list to earn brownie points with some distant power.

I read a book about five years ago called, Prayer, Conversations With God” by Rosalyn Rinker. It is one of the best at driving it this home personally and practically.