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How to Have an Impactful Prayer Time for Kids at Church

Prayer Time For Kids

Prayer should be a weekly part of your children’s ministry. Let’s look at how you can have an impactful prayer time for the kids in your ministry.

Establish a sense of reverence and awe. Kids should have a blast at church with lots of high-energy, loud games and activities. But when it comes time for prayer, bring the level down to prepare their hearts for prayer.

Start by explaining what prayer is. It is simply talking and listening to God.

Share a promise from God’s Word about prayer. Here are a few examples.

“Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” 
Jeremiah 33:3

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” I John 5:14

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

So, what does this look like in each age group. Here are some ways to incorporate prayer into these age groups.

Babies

Hold each baby and pray over them. Pray a prayer promise over each child. One great way to do this is to put some prayer promises up on the wall. This reminds team members to pray specific prayer promises over the child.

Even though babies can’t verbalize a prayer, you can plant memories of early prayer experiences that you led them through. Take their hands and hold them together like they are praying and say a prayer for them.

Preschoolers

  • Gather the kids into groups of six to eight kids.
  • Have them sit in a circle.
  • Go around and give each child the opportunity to share a prayer request.
  • Go around and give each child the opportunity to pray for one of the requests.
  • If any of the children are too shy to pray in a group, you can help them.

Another great prayer tool for preschoolers is finger prayers.

  • Thumb – pray for parent(s)
  • Pointer – pray for friends who need to be “pointed” to Jesus
  • Middle – pray for those who are sick
  • Ring  – pray for teachers
  • Little finger – pray for yourself

Elementary

  • Gather the kids into groups of six to eight kids.
  • Explain that prayer is talking to God.
  • Play soft, meditative music throughout this time.
  • Take prayer requests.
  • Have kids pair up and pray for each other’s prayer requests.
  • Explain that prayer is also listening to God.
  • Have the kids bow their heads. No one talking.
  • Have the kids sit in silence for one minute. Tell them to listen to anything God may speak to them about in the quietness of the minute.
  • After the minute is over, have kids share what God spoke to them about. You will be amazed at what they share.

We know that nothing of eternal value happens without prayer. If we are going to impact kids’ lives, we must teach them how to pray powerful prayers.

Today’s kids live in a very noisy world. There is always something coming their way. Text messages dinging on their phone. Notifications from dozens of apps vying for their attention. The action of mobile games beckoning them.

But if we can help kids learn the discipline of spending quiet, meditative time with Jesus, they can develop a close relationship with Him.

In Matthew 2:13, Jesus reminds us about the importance of prayer in church. He said, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer.’ ”

Your turn. What are some prayer activities or ideas you have used to teach children about prayer? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below.

This article originally appeared here.