Raising A Child Who PraysExemplo

Text a Prayer

My wife and I are pastors who have served in ministry for nearly thirty years. But even as pastors, when Marlinda and I were teaching our now-grown daughters to pray, we could have used some help. Sometimes our coaching was almost perfect—textbook perfect. Other times it wasn’t pretty. Our kids were resistant. My methods were weak and boring. Our attitudes were less than stellar, to say the least. It looked like an unfixable train wreck. But even during tough times God will show Himself faithful on our behalf. Just don’t quit! Parenting is a marathon and not a sixty-yard dash.

To begin, try today’s prayer exercise with your child:

Text a Prayer

Your child’s era is a social media one. In order for prayer to be meaningful and relevant, you must show them how it fits into their world. Consider having them use your phone or another’s to send a prayer text to a relative.

For example:

• Christian relative: “Hi, Grandma, this morning I prayed for you by asking: ‘Heavenly Father, help Grandma to not be lonely but to have a lot of good friends and for our relationship to become stronger.’ I can’t wait to see you!”
• A non-Christian relative: “Hi, Grandma, this morning I prayed for you by asking: ‘Loving God, help Grandma to experience Your love in a greater way. Please answer all of her spiritual questions and bless her in a big way. I ask you this in the name of my Savior, Jesus. Amen.’ I love you, Grandma. See you soon!”