Prayer Practices for Kids & Families
DAY 1
Psalm 23
Read the paraphrase of Psalm 23 in The Jesus Storybook Bible (The Good Shepherd, pp. 132-134). If you don’t have a copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible, you can also listen to the author read it HERE. Read it once as written, and then talk about it with your kids.
What does a Shepherd do to take care of his sheep? How has God taken care of you?
One line of the prayer says “He fills my heart so full of happiness I can’t hold it all inside.” What’s something that God has done that has made you so happy that you can’t hold it inside? What can you praise him for today?
Now read the Psalm a second time, slowly, this time reading it as a prayer directly to God. Change the pronouns from “He” to “You”, etc.
Here are the first few lines to get you started:
“God, You are my Shepherd, and I am your little lamb.
You feed me, You guide me. You look after me. I have everything I need.”
DAY 2
ACTS Prayer Prompt
Try using the ACTS prayer prompt today. This is a helpful way to focus our prayers. If this is helpful, you can check out the ACTS Prayer sheet (linked below), print several copies, and staple them together to make a prayer journal for your child.
A - Adoration (I praise God for…) Read Psalm 100:2. What are some things we can praise God for today?
C - Confession (I’m sorry for…) Read 1 John 1:9. What do you need to confess to God, or tell him you’re sorry for?
T - Thanksgiving (I’m thankful for…) Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18. God has blessed us with so much - what are some things we can thank God for?
S - Supply our Needs ( I ask God for…) Read Philippians 4:6. What requests do you want to lay at God’s feet today? Take this time to pray for others, and also for yourself.
DAY 3
Prayer Jar
Read together Philippians 4:6-7 (the NLT or NIrV are great for kids)
Then grab Mason jars, some craft sticks, and markers and make a prayer jar.
Have your kids decorate their jars any way they’d like. Have fun and be creative!
Hand each family member a few craft sticks. Then think about some requests they’d like to pray about. These can be super simple, or as detailed as you’d like, depending on the age of your kids. Use Philippians 4:6-7 as a guide - Surrender your worries. Tell God what you need. Thank him for all he has done. Ask for his peace to guard your hearts and minds. Have your kids write one prayer on each craft stick, and then place them in their jars. Place your jar on the kitchen table, or in another visible, easily accessible place in your home. Encourage your kids to grab a craft stick whenever they walk by their jars and take a moment to pray about their request. Be sure to celebrate together when God answers your prayers!
DAY 4
How to Pray
Read the paraphrase of the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6 in the Jesus Storybook Bible, or listen to the author read it HERE. Read it once together, and then have your kids close their eyes and imagine sitting on Jesus’ lap, just like the child in the Jesus Storybook Bible illustration. Read it again slowly, pausing after each phrase. Remind your kids that God listens when they pray, not because they use the right words or do everything the “right” way - no, God listens because He loves them SO much - with a “Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.”
DAY 5
Sensory Prayer
Prayer Stations are a great way for tactile learners to engage with prayer. The idea is to set up several small stations around your house with something tangible for kids to hold or do while they pray using the prompt at each station. Here are just a few ideas to help get you started, but be creative with your own or explore Pinterest for tons more ideas. Have your kids work through these stations one at a time, with just one child at a station at a time. Write out the instructions for each station (or go through each one together if you have pre-readers) and set clear expectations. Consider dimming the lights, or play quiet music while they pray.
Names of God - On small slips of paper, write several names of God or Jesus from Scripture, along with their meaning (ex. Jehovah Rapha - The Lord my Healer, El Roi - The God who sees me, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, etc.). Place a small tub or tray of cornmeal or salt and have your child write the name they choose in the salt as they pray.
Prayer for Healing - Have a box of Band-aids available for kids to write the names of those in their lives who are sick or in need of healing. As they pray for each person, they can write the name on a band-aid and add it to a prayer poster.
Pray through your “family tree” - Print a simple picture of a tree, and on it write the names of your family members or those closest to you. As you write each name, take a moment to pray for each person.
Praise Poster - Hang a large sheet of butcher paper or poster board on the wall and provide markers. Have the kids write or draw things they want to thank God or praise Him for.
Pray for our city - Print a map of Des Moines and have sticky notes available for kids to add landmarks to the map - your neighborhood, Table Church, your school, friends’ homes, the Capitol, etc. Pray for the people represented by each sticky note, pray that God would move in our city and bring people to know Him.
Handing over rocks - Draw a simple cross on a poster board or butcher paper. Have small rocks available for kids to pick up and hold while they pray. As they pray, kids can think about something heavy that they’d like to hand over to Jesus - something they need to say sorry for, something that’s making them feel worried or afraid, a doubt or fear. Have them hold the rock in their hands, feeling its weight, and then they can place it on the cross poster, surrendering it to Jesus.
RESOURCES
Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones
Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd Jones
Kids Read Truth “I Will Thank You” art journal
Kids Read Truth “I Will Worship You” scripture and art journal
Kids Adventure Bible, NIrV
ACTS Prayer Notes on Etsy