Phase II - Listening to God
In phase one of Teaching Children to Pray, children begin to learn to listen to God. To further teach the lesson, you will need to continue to direct them to ask God questions and listen to answers.
Many times, as adults, we pray as if we are machine guns...we ask for this, this, this, this and that. We don't stop to WAIT for an answer from God or to receive His heart on the matter we present. In our busy schedules, we hope that one of our prayers reaches God's ears and He answers. To counter this bad habit, you can teach your children to wait on God's answer - whether it's an immediate response or takes much longer.
Note: I have encountered people who do not believe God speaks to us or doubt that He intends to answer our prayers. If you are one of these people, I recommend reading E. M. Bounds on prayer. Here's a quote:
"Christians must get ahold of this one thing: that God means for prayer to have an answer!"
If that doesn't convince you, I recommend using the object lesson below as a test. When you see God answer your prayers, you will change your mind. :)
Object: Family Prayer Journal
Take time each week to pray and listen together. Write down the prayers that need God's provision or answer. Then, spend time reading passages about God as He reveals Himself as our Provider (Moses, Abraham, Noah, David, Esther, etc.). Discuss why God desired to answer their prayers:
- Did He call them to do the impossible and want to step in to make the impossible happen?
- Were they desperate?
- What did they do to hear God's answer? (Fast, get alone, etc.)
After reading the examples, take time to actually do at least one of the examples. Schedule a fast. Schedule time for each child to get alone with God to hear specifically what God has to say about the situation. Then, make sure to get together later that week to discuss what God has said. Ask them "What's God's heart for this situation?" "What does God want you to do or say?"
As parents, you will need to remind them that:
- God always lines His answers up with the Bible
- God never tells us to be disobedient from our parents or other authorities
- God's answer is always loving, even if it disciplines us
After time has passed, you and your children will be able to look back through the journal to find out how God has answered prayers. This will increase your faith, sharpen your hearing, and teach you and your children to hear quickly. That is, after all, the goal - to hear and obey God quickly for every situation as it arises. The habit you are trying to develop is to help your children turn to God immediately for answers to situations that require quick answers, to obey instantly, and to know that God is always ready with His answers.
For those items that require time and patience for an answer, you are also helping them develop patience, perseverance, and faith that God will eventually answer in His perfect timing. The skill to discern between a situation that requires a quick response and a situation that requires patience will take time to develop but will be invaluable when they face tests at school, trials as they grow into adulthood, and moral dillemmas in life.
More than all else...remember to pray for God to increase their curiosity about Him and His holy things.
-------
P.S.: Several people have commented to me about these posts. If you have a comment, I would love it if you would share it with everyone here.
