Last week, we discussed the idea of using spiritual disciplines to help your children develop habits that will help them grow spiritually and be spiritually healthy as they grow older. Of the fifteen disciplines we mentioned, prayer is probably the one with which Christian parents have the most success. It is relatively simple to model and teach and there are easy ways for even very young children to begin praying. Most families have habits of praying at meals and/or at bedtime. Children also see prayer modeled in their Bible classes and in worship. But are your kids embracing prayer as a spiritual discipline?

For prayer to continue to help your children grow spiritually, they need to become independent prayers. Not just at meal times and bedtimes, but without ceasing during their days. When something happens that worries, frightens or upsets them, they should automatically turn to prayer. They should feel comfortable having conversations with God in prayer about anything and everything. When God says “no” or “wait” to a prayer, they should know it is God’s will and for the best.
As a parent, the problem is that independent prayer is usually silent prayer. Which can mean you don’t know for sure whether or not your kids are actually praying. Actually young children and even some teens are fairly consistent with their prayers. As they get older, however, they can depend upon others to do their praying for them and become less and less engaged in a personal prayer life.
Have periodic conversations with your kids about praying. Ask how they engage with God in prayer. Ask them if there are things for which they are praying that you can also be praying about. Discuss how God is answering the prayers of your family and what some of the possible reasons behind a “no” or a “wait” might be. Share about your own prayer life and how you make time for prayer. Or ways you have seen God answer your prayers. These conversations should be ongoing – including after they have left home as young adults. Don’t assume your kids have mastered the spiritual discipline of prayer. Make sure it is firmly rooted in them.