31 Virtues for Our Kids ~ Prayerfulness

Prayerfulness

Over the next few months we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!

Ephesians 6:18 (New Living Translation)
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

My little guy is learning how to pray. It is way too cute to watch as he folds his hands, bows his head, yet peeks up and looks around with his big brown eyes. It is not uncommon for all the girls in the house to go "Awwwwwe" when we say, "Amen"! It is wonderful to watch my kids learn how to pray and begin to see their hearts become sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I love it when they remember to pray for others without me prompting them to before hand.

My hubby and I want to teach and show them how to have a relationship with our God! There is no better way to help them grow in their faith then to teach them how to talk to our Father and have a real conversation with Him.

If you want to see your kids grow in their Christian faith then teach them how to pray. Jesus is our example, He even taught us how to pray. If God thought it was necessary to teach us then surely it is important to teach it to our children.

Matthew 6:9-14 (New King James Version)
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer is such a great pattern for us to follow in our daily prayers. I love to follow these steps in my daily prayer.

1. Honor God for who He is
2. Pray for His will to be done
3. Prayer for our basic needs
4. Pray for forgiveness for us and help to forgive others
5. Prayer for help in avoiding sin in our lives
6. Protection from Satan
7. Honoring God for who He is

Prayer is what will draw my kids closer to God. It will help them to have a real relationship with Him. As they pray in the Spirit they will pray the perfect will of God into their lives and those that they bring to the Lord. As they pray for others they will become more kind and tender to those in need and it will help keep their eyes off of their own selfish desires. Prayer will teach them more than John and I could ever teach them in our lifetime. There is no better gift, no better bit of wisdom, no better advice or no better habit than a life of prayerfulness that we could give them. I want this virtue so desperately for them.

*"Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request."


*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids