“You fly in after speaking all weekend to pray with kids? And why do you have ‘Prayer Class’ instead of doing a regular Sunday School lesson?” someone asked me recently. They were referring to the “Prayer Class” I led for children aged five through 12 on Sunday mornings once a month.
“Because the kids are terrific pray-ers,” I answered, “and this is how God has provided for them to know Him—through talking and listening to Him!”
For example, last Sunday in our church, before the kids were dismissed for children’s church before the sermon, they all came up to the front of the sanctuary and Samuel, nine, was asked to pray at the microphone before they left.
“Lord, help us all to have fun worshipping You and to have a good day. For anyone who has been hurt or who’s in pain, please heal them. And God, make us all holy! In Jesus name, Amen,” he prayed. Samuel’s prayer was short but like the young Samuel in the Bible, impacted many.
Those of us who work, play and pray with children know there is no junior version of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who burdens adult Christians to pray for an unsaved person at home or an unreached people in a foreign country also indwells Christian children.
God can guide a seven-year-old on what to pray, just as He reveals His will to a 27 or 70-year-old person.
One of those times I observed this was a Sunday morning prayer walk when I led kids from our church around a public elementary school nearby. In my small group, one little girl saw the blue “Disabled Parking” sign and prayed, “Jesus, help the kids who have trouble learning and who have to be in wheelchairs or have handicaps. Protect them from teasing and let them know You love them.”
As we continued walking around the building, another child said, “I was really sad when my parents got a divorce. Let’s pray for all those children whose moms and dads are divorced.”
“Help their parents, Lord, to be godly and loving. Help their families get back together and please comfort the kids,” she prayed.
The children prayed for teachers and the principal to know Jesus, for every student to be saved, and even for the janitor. It took only 20 minutes, but I believe the children’s prayers made an eternal difference.
Too often, kids are not brought into the prayer circle and as adults we underestimate their spiritual capacity. We figure when they grow up, when they have longer attention spans or vocabularies, they can join the prayer meetings, but in the meantime, we have to keep them busy at home and church.
But the truth is kids can be wonderful prayer partners right now. They can learn to pray effectively if we tailor prayer times to their present ability to focus and show them how to target their prayers. As we do, God can use their prayers to impact the world.
Here are some ways:
- Change your mind about children’s spiritual capacity.
Ask God to open the eyes of your understanding so you can see the children in your life as He sees them. Ask Him to change your limited perspective and broaden your vision of their potential. - Start young.
Teach your children to talk to God when they’re toddlers and pray with them throughout childhood. Giving them real things (problems at school, events in our nation or city, people who are needy of God’s help) to pray about now increases the likelihood of their becoming pray-ers for a lifetime.Harness their childlike faith and model how to share thoughts with God in a natural manner. Then they can experience answers to prayer and build their own history of God’s faithfulness and know Him more as they grow.
- Invite them to pray for specifics.
Assign small prayer targets to each child, like this, “Jen, could you pray for blessings and healing for Grandma since she’s in the hospital?” “Kelly, would you pray for Dad before he leaves town for God’s protection?”Assure them that God is listening and that their prayers will make a difference.
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Known for her warmth, authenticity, and love for people, Cheri Fuller is a gifted, inspiring communicator who speaks nationally and internationally. From the east coast to the west coast and as far away as South Africa, Brazil, Switzerland, and Singapore, Cheri presents encouraging programs that impact people. Through her engaging storytelling style and practical wisdom, audiences leave inspired and challenged to face life's struggles with hope and purpose. She keynotes at women's retreats and conferences, writers' conferences, Christmas events, and national parenting seminars.
Cheri is an award-winning author of forty two books including her newest, Mother-Daughter Duet and The One Year Women's Friendship Devotional.
A former Oklahoma Mother of the Year, Cheri has been a frequent media guest on Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, NBC Radio News, Moody Broadcasting, and other national radio and TV programs. Her articles have appeared in Family Circle, ParentLife, Guideposts, Focus on the Family, Today's Christian Woman, Better Homes & Gardens Faith & Spirit, and other publications.
Cheri's passion is encouraging women and inspiring and equipping people of all ages to connect with God in their busy life and impact their world through prayer, as they live life to the fullest, focus on what really matters, and build loving connections with family and friends no matter what their circumstances.