Simply Pray

My mom is a woman of prayer. She lives on a small farm in Eastern Washington – although this picture is from when she went on an Amish tour.

I come from a heritage of prayer. Sometimes I forget that and yet I am very thankful for that heritage. My great grandmother was a woman of prayer and my mom too was and still is a woman of prayer. Growing up my mom took us to church shortly after we were born. I remember her saying that Sunday, after countless Sundays spent in the Nursery, she asked God, “Why do I even come to church?” She said His answer was very clear to her, “You are training little ones to be in my house.” You see she lived in a small town. The church she attended had classes for beginners or what we would call preschoolers today and on up but no one to staff the Nursery. The Nursery was open to moms to take their crying or busy babies to if needed, otherwise the babies were in the service with the moms and dads. My mom faithfully took the four of us to church every Sunday, by herself. My dad, who was a farmer, never wanted to come with us.

Life was not easy for my mom. Raising four kids on a farm with chores, three meals a day to cook and long hours during harvest time was not easy, plus she had other challenges that she dealt with daily. When she was overwhelmed, she prayed. She took everything to God in prayer. Many times I remember hearing my mom pray. She prayed for her kids. She prayed when she didn’t know what to do. She prayed for the challenges she faced and God gave her the strength to persevere. It wasn’t easy, but perhaps those challenges helped her lean into God more.

Today she is 90 and she is still praying for her kids, grandkids and great grandkids. Sometimes I think, now that she is a little older, that she forgets to pray and perhaps worries a little more than she used to, but then I guess she has earned her right to do this. One thing I do believe is that she still is trusting God every step of the way.

My great grandmother was a prayer warrior. She believed that when you prayed God answered. She prayed for people to be healed, for breakthroughs, for her family – always for her family, every one of them by name and although at the time of her death, not all of them were yet following Jesus, she prayed and believed that they all would come into the kingdom of God. Her daughter, my Aunt Zola, was also a prayer warrior. She lived to be 107 ministering in prayer at the care facility she lived in the last years of her life.

I am thankful for the heritage I received and for the faith of those who went before me. I am thankful for their prayer example. I admit, I still have a ways to go to become the prayer warriors that these women were. I often find myself praying in my car on my way somewhere or praying one-sentence prayers in between various commitments. Lately though, I have been taking time in the mornings to simply breathe in the presence of God and ask Him to guide and guard my day. Guess what, it does make a difference. Prayer changes our hearts and moves the hand of God.

Much like a loving Father, God wants us, His children, to come to Him in prayer bringing our love, devotion and needs to Him. Prayer doesn’t have to be long or difficult. It’s simply a conversation with a loving heavenly Father.

This weekend, I attended a ministry conference. One of the things I heard about at the conference was a movement called “Try praying”. It encourages people to simply try praying for a week and gives them a seven day prayer guide to use as they do so. It actually is for people who don’t normally go to church, but can be used by anyone. The idea intrigued me. I wonder if non church attenders can try praying for a week, what about those of us who are church attendees? What about the body of Christ taking time to pray? What would happen if we band together and pray for our nation, our children and our concerns? What would happen if we simply kneel at Jesus’ feet and thank Him for who He is, asking Him to guide our lives? Prayer is powerful! Need some wisdom and guidance? Need to fall in love with Jesus again? I challenge myself and you – try praying!

PARENT PRAYER:
Father God,
Thank you that I can talk to you everyday. I can talk to you anywhere and any time. I can talk to you about everything that concerns me or I can sit quietly in your presence just simply basking in your love and grace for me. Prayer isn’t hard Lord. You didn’t make it difficult. We don’t have to come to you with flowery phrases and many words. We don’t even have to completely understand what we are asking or talking to you about, you simply invite us to come to you much like a child comes to their daddy. Lord, I want to come to you like that. I want to sit in your presence. I want to hear your voice and I want to bring you my concerns, questions and need for wisdom. Lord, like my mom and my great grandmother did, I want to bring my family to you and believe that you are working in their lives. Give us a greater love for you. Teach us to pray in your name. Give us faith to believe and know that you will answer those prayers. Abraham’s servant Eliezer believed that you would hear his prayer and you did. You answered him and gave him wisdom to do what Abraham asked him to do. I know that you will give me wisdom as I continue to come to you too. Thank you for hearing my prayer. I love you God. Amen

SIMPLY PRAY

• Prayer doesn’t have to be long or difficult. It is a simple conversation with a God who loves us more than we will ever know. In fact, conversing with God throughout the day is a great way to pray.
  
• How can you get started in prayer? Invite God’s presence into your prayer time and into your day. Ask Him to help you be aware of His presence. Welcome His presence, just like you would welcome a friend into your home.
  
  • Be honest with God when praying. He knows how you are feeling, when you are distracted, that half truth you told. He knows everything about you anyway.
    
• Listen. When you are conversing with someone, you usually don’t do all the talking. You also take time to listen. Ask God what He is trying to say to you. He may bring a verse of the Bible to mind or remind you of something that is important.
  
• Journal your prayers. It’s fun to go back later and reread them to see what you were thinking, how God answered and the growth you’ve experienced.
  
• Prayer though the Bible by taking a favorite verse and inserting your name or the name of a family member you are praying for into that verse.

PRAYER FOR KIDS

• If you are in a classroom, invite your children to pray. We learn by doing and you may be surprised about who will volunteer.
  
• For younger age kids, one sentence prayers are great.
  
• Rote prayers are fun and a great way to start kids on their journey of prayer. The Johnny Appleseed prayer for snack is a favorite of mine. “Oh the Lord’s been goon to me and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun and the rain and the appleseed. The Lord’s been good to me.”
  
  • The Lord’s Prayer can be simplified or explained one line at a time to use with kids too. EX: “Father God in heaven, we honor your name. Your kingdom come – be king of my heart and your will be done – do what you want to do God here on earth. Give us our daily bread – our food, what we need today. Forgive us and help us to forgive others. ….”
    
    • Pray throughout the day. When your child falls down, at meals, to say thank you, to share a story with God even though He already knows. Talk to God about anything and everything.

Kid’s Section

STORY: A Wife For Isaac – Genesis 24
When baby Isaac grew up, he wanted a family of his own. Abraham thought, “Isaac needs a wife to love so he won’t be all alone.” Abraham sent his servant, Eliezer back to the country he had moved from to find a wife for Isaac. Eliezer packed the camels and set off. (Pretend to pack.)

It was a long, long trip! (Walk around.)When Eliezer arrived at the town where Abraham had lived long ago, he was hot, tired and thirsty. (Sit down.) The camels were tired and thirsty too. He stopped by the well – a well is where people go to get water. Eliezer didn’t know what to do. How was he going to find a wife for Isaac? He didn’t know, but God did! (Fold hands to pray.) Eliezer prayed, “God, let the woman who gives me a drink of water and waters my camels too be the one that you have for Isaac.” (Show water pitcher.) Camels drink a lot of water and Eliezer had ten camels! It would be a big job to water ten camels, still Eliezer trusted God to answer his prayer. (Praying hands again.) Eliezer knew the woman that was kind enough to give him a drink and water his ten camels would be a very special person.

Guess what? God did answer his prayer. (Praying hands again.) A woman named Rebekah came to the well with her water jug. (Show water pitcher again.) When Eliezer asked her for a drink, she said, “I will give you a drink and I will water your camels too.” (Pretend to water camels.) Eliezer thanked God for showing him what to do. He thanked God for finding a wife for Isaac.

God answers your prayers too and He shows you what He wants you to do, just like He did for Eliezer. Even though you are little, God wants you to talk to Him. You can talk to God about everything and know that He hears you. You can talk to Him about your pets, your owies, your family or your favorite TV show. You can ask Him for help, because He wants to help you. You can talk to God when you’re happy, sad or mad. When God answers your prayers, don’t forget to say, “Thank you!” God loves you and He will always do what He says He will do. You are very special to Him.

PRAYER:
Dear God,
Thank you for loving and caring for me. I know that you listen when I pray and that you will help me know what to do. I love you. Amen

MEMORIZE: Proverbs 3:5 – (Hands like holding a book.)
Trust – (Make a fist & pull in.)
In the Lord – (Point upwards.)
With all – (Extend arms outward.)
Your heart – (Hands on heart.

KNOW: God hears me when I pray. He will show me what to do.
TALK ABOUT: Talking to God.
ASK: Who loves you? God loves me.
AND DO… Talk to God any time and anywhere. Trust Him to answer your prayer..

FUN IDEAS FOR THIS WEEK

• Play a “Good Choices” game. Give your child various scenarios such as, what could you do when your   baby sister is crying or when someone takes away your toy. Act out the answers and remind your   child that he/she can always talk to God.
  
  • Take a trip to the library and check out some books about camels to read together or look up facts about camels online.
    
    • Found this idea on “Focus On The Family” and really liked it. Give your kids a sentence to finish to  encourage them to pray.EX: God, Thank you for ….