Keep Praying

PHOTO CAPTION: Kitties or bunnies – not very ferocious, but “No
lion, they are depending on God’s mighty power.”

Prayer – talking to God, entering into relationship with Him. Prayer is
conversation. It involves talking and listening. Often we associate
prayer with asking God for something, but prayer is also worship,
seeking to know God and spending time with Him out of our love for Him.

Have you ever felt like your prayer life was a little dull like your
prayers weren’t getting through? Not necessarily because you didn’t
receive the answer you wanted, but just because you weren’t sure God
was even listening to you at all. I have. Those times come to everyone’s
life. Maybe you feel that way because you are going through a hard
time right now or because you’re really tired after a busy season of life.
You’ve been spending time reading God’s Word, yet you still feel like you
are in one of those dry seasons and the only thing you have to hang on to
is your faith? You may wonder, “Why do I even pray at all?” It’s
during those times that we definitely need to keep praying. Whatever
you do, don’t stop now!

We may not always see God at work or feel His presence, but He is
there. We may feel unworthy to enter His presence, still God does hear
us and He desires relationship with us. He loves us and is with us. It all
comes down to the simple matter of trust or counting on God even when things look bleak.



I wonder how Daniel felt when the decree was made that forbade him or anyone to pray to God. Did he wonder why his prayers weren’t being answered? Did he question whether he should pray at all or did he simply trust God knowing that whatever the outcome, he was in God’s hands. I believe he knew that God was BIG enough to change the king’s mind and save him from the lions, but he didn’t know for sure what the outcome would be. So like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, he trusted and continued to pray. He trusted God enough to know that praying was worth the risk whatever the outcome. His relationship with God was far more important than any risk he was facing. He chose to keep praying even if God didn’t save him from the lions. That is trust!



Whether you are facing lions or simply feeling a little stale in your prayer life, now is not the time to quit. Keep praying! God is with you and even if you don’t get the results you wanted, in the end we win! We win because God wins! Our relationship with Him is worth far more than anything else we may gain or anything we lose. Keep praying!

PS – I find that the Lord’s Prayer is a good model for prayer.


• Talk to God like you would a father.
• Honor and praise Him.
• Pray for His will to be done and that He would rule and reign in our hearts in every situation we are facing.
• Pray for what you need for that day.
• Pray for deliverance and that God guides you when you are tempted.
• Pray that God receives the glory and honor in everything we do.

PARENT OR GRANDPARENT PRAYER:
Father God,

I’m not giving up. I’m going to keep on praying. I know that either you will change the person or the situation I am dealing with or you will change me. Change my perspective when I pray. Help me to see your plan. I know you have answers and your answers are always best. I thank you for answers to prayer that I’ve already seen. You have indeed done the miraculous again and again. Because of all that I’ve seen you do in the past, I take courage to keep praying for those dilemmas that I see now. I pray for people, who are far from you right now, turn their hearts to you. May they see and know the truth and embrace you. I pray for those struggling with job losses, addictions, finances, depression, sickness, failed marriages. Lord, bring healing, freedom, wisdom and joy. Restore, renew and revitalize our faith and trust in you. And God, when it seems that the lions are roaring loudly in our heads, telling us not to trust you, telling us to give in or give up, may we take courage in you because we know that no matter what, you are there with us. Thank you God for your presence. Teach us Lord, to pray. And Lord, as a parent, help me teach my children to pray. Thank you for the privilege of praying with my children. May we come to know you more as we pray together. Amen


PRAYING WITH YOUR CHILD

• Keep your prayers short with younger children and encourage them to participate.
  • Pray in the morning, at meal times, bedtime, any time.
    • Talk about how God has answered prayers.
      • Pray and worship while singing songs together. 

      • Dare to ask God for BIG answers.
        • Pray what you are reading in the Bible. Simplify to make it easy for kids to understand.
          
        • PRAYERS TO PRAY
          
• It’s okay to pray favorite rote prayers such as “Thank you for the food we eat, 
Thank you for the world so sweet….” But also talk to God like you would talk to a friend.


• Pray prayers of thanks.
  • Pray prayers asking God to show you what to do or help you in some way.


  • Pray for others. JUST KEEP PRAYING!


    
  • PS Sometimes it’s easy to do more talking about problems, complaining or gossiping rather than talking the matter over with God. Let’s always remember to pray!

Kid’s Section

STORY: Daniel Faces Lions – Daniel 6
Daniel was brave. He knew God was with Him. He worked for King Darius as one of his top helpers. The King liked Daniel, but not everyone did. (Shake head to show dislike.) 

Some of the king’s helper didn’t like Daniel at all. They wanted to get Daniel in trouble.

They watched Daniel (Put hand above eyes for watching.) and saw that he prayed (Fold hands.)to God not once, not twice, but three times a day! (Count, “One, two, three!”) “Aha!“ they thought, “That’s a good plan.” They asked the king to make a new law that said for a whole month everyone should pray only to the King! Anyone who disobeyed would be thrown into a den of hungry lions. That’s a silly law! But King Darius signed it without even thinking. 



Daniel heard (Hand by ear.) about the new law and he knew that God is the only one we should worship and pray to. Did he stop praying? Nope! He kept praying everyday, (Fold hands.) three times a day! (Count, “One, two, three!”) Daniel knew he could depend on God.

When the king’s other men (Hand by ear.) heard, they went straight to King Darius. “Oh king, Daniel’s not obeying your law!” 
(Say in a tattle tale voice.) The king was very sad. (Frown.) He really liked Daniel, but a law is a law, so Daniel was thrown in with the lions. (Pretend to throw something.) Oh no! Will Daniel be a yummy lion snack? 



The king tossed and turned all night. Early the next day, he went to check on Daniel. Guess what? Daniel was safe and sound. God had shut the lion’s mouths tight because God is powerful and He can do anything!

Daniel depended on God and God helped him. You can depend on God too. You depend on God when you pray, (Pretend to pray.) make good choices and love God just like Daniel did (Put hands on heart.) Remember, God really loves you and He’s with you wherever you go, just like He was with Daniel. 



MEMORIZE: Eph. 6:10 NIrV – (Hold hands as though holding a book.)
Let the Lord – (Point upwards.)

Make you strong – (Show muscles.)

Depend on – (Clap hands.)

His (God’s) – (Point upwards.)

Mighty power – (Show muscles.)

PRAYER:

Dear God,

I’m glad that you love me. You are strong and able to help me. I know you are with me and that I can depend on you. I love you. Help me remember to talk to you each day. Amen


KNOW: Daniel talked to God everyday.
TALK ABOUT: When, how where can we talk to God?
ASK: Who is always with you? God is always with me.


AND DO: I can pray.



FUN IDEAS FOR THIS WEEK:
   * Say one sentence prayers with your child throughout the day, “Thank you, God, for this yummy lunch.”  “God I need help with my bicycle.”  “God, I have a new friend.”  “You are amazing, God!”

Go to the zoo to see the lions and talk about Daniel’s night spent in the lion’s den. Can’t go to the zoo? How about the library to check out a few lion books or try looking up lions online. Thank God that He is with us everyday no matter what just like He was with Daniel.