Teaching Kids to PRAY
Acronyms are an easy way for kids to remember things. There are many examples of teaching kids to pray using the acronym PRAY. Here is my version that I’ve used many times.
P – Teach them to Praise
Teaching kids who God is and that only He is worthy of our praise is fundamental for any ministry. We can do that in a variety of ways, including our song choices, Bible lessons, memorizing Bible verses, and our prayers.
There are so many songs that declare God’s goodness and faithfulness, who He is and what He has done. When introducing songs, talk about the lyrics, explain them, teach them to focus on God’s attributes that the song communicates.
There are hundreds of lessons and verses that reveal God’s nature, His Truth, and His Name. Learning God’s different Biblical Names is a good way to help kids understand His power and His ways. Learning about creation testifies of His greatness, glory, and splendor.
We praise Him because of who He is and what He has done. We declare He is all-wise, all-knowing, boundless, and limitless. We acknowledge His majesty, His eternal existence, and His infinite power. Explain all these big words and use them when teaching kids to pray with reverence and awe. Teach them to praise.
R – Teach them to Remember
You can give Biblical examples to remind kids what God has done and what He has promised to do. The stories of Moses and the Israelites, of Noah and God’s promise, Joshua, David – the list is extensive – all culminate in God’s Old Testament promises to send a Savior, and how He accomplished that in Jesus.
Give an example in your own life, or ask kids to share examples in theirs, of when God has been faithful, when He protected them, when He answered their prayer. Teach them to give a testimony to His goodness and loving kindness.
Another great way to help kids believe big and increase their faith is sharing stories such as George Mueller (one of my favorites!). A quick search will tell you he ran an orphanage in England and the many ways God miraculously provided for them.
Give them “a leg to stand on” for why they can trust God today, right now. To remember that He is good, and He has been, is, and will continue to be good to them. Help them learn to reflect, recognize, and be thankful for all He has already done, and build trust that if He’s done it before, He’ll do it again. Teach them to remember.
A – Teach them to Ask
This is the familiar part. Many people might even believe asking is praying. In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss that asking is not all that prayer is, but it is a part of it. God knows what we need, but He wants us to ask because He wants us to recognize His answer when it comes. This increases our faith and trust and we give Him glory for answered prayers.
Here are some verses to consider.
- Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Matthew 7:7 …ask and it will be given to you…
- James 1:6 …let him ask in faith…
- 1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.
So what types of things can we ask for? We can definitely ask for wisdom. James 1:5 says God gives it generously. It is a smart idea to ask God what He thinks. “Is this good for me?” “Is this Your best for me?” “Is this the direction I should go?”
Can we ask for anything? I believe we can, but we also must have faith and believe that God knows what we need, and trust Him for what is best. Keep in mind that 2 Peter 1:3 says, “By his divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own honor and glory.” And Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” He has already provided everything we need so ask, believe, receive. Teach them to ask.
Y – Teach them God’s “Yes!”
Here’s the finale! The conclusion, which is actually the foundation which must be firmly built to teach them to pray biblically, which is praying in accordance with God’s Word. My paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 1:20 – All the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ.
Teaching kids to learn and declare God’s promises are key to believing and receiving. Help them learn to know, believe, and speak His promises. Train them to understand and agree with what God has already said, to grab hold of His promises and stand firm.
To do this, it must be modeled, and then practiced. I’m sharing with you a handout I created for my leaders to use during prayer time, and also gave the kids a copy to keep as a bookmark as a quick reference of God’s promises for challenging things kids might face.
Once they define what they are feeling or what they need, use the handout to determine a verse, a promise of God, and confidently proclaim, “God, Your Word says You already provided for everything I need. Your promise for __________ is my protection and covering. I believe Your Word to be True even when I’m feeling ___________. I believe this because You promised it and Jesus provided for it. So, Lord, I declare __(pray the verse provided)___ in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.” Teach them God’s “Yes!”
Acronyms are a proven method to help kids remember things. Teaching kids to PRAY gives them a tool to use when learning to talk to God. Teach them to Praise. Teach them to Remember. Teach them to Ask. Teach them God’s “Yes!”
You can get the Bible Promises for Kids bookmark here.
Teacher, Leader, Pastor
