Secret Weapon: Teaching Kids to Pray

When do you start teaching kids about prayer? Tina Houser answers with a resounding, "Now!"

In Ephesians 6:10-18 we see a description of the armor of God, but most of us remember it only through verse 17. We talk about the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. But, verse 18 tells us about our Secret Weaponƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚"ƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚€ƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚"prayer! No matter the time or place, we can call upon God immediately, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Children are never too young for parents, children's pastors, and other caring adults to introduce them to the lifelong joy of sharing their hearts with God, who loves them and longs for a lasting relationship with them.

Just look around and you'll realize children are watching and listening to the people in their lives. They've seen something modeled so they do it. Model a lifestyle of prayer and children will grow to appreciate the gift they haveƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚"ƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚€ƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚ƒƒ‚‚‚ƒƒ‚‚ƒ‚‚"access to their Heavenly Father.