Teach Kids How to Pray Using This Creative Tool

We welcome Becky Sexton as our blog guest this month. Becky and her husband, Mike, are Awana field directors. Together they oversee four U.S. missionary couples and help develop Awana in the U.K. and Ireland. In a recent Awana Clubs Podcast, Becky explained the importance of teaching kids how to talk to God, and how to use a creative tool to do that: the Prayer Hand.

Teach Kids How to Pray Using This Creative Tool

Simply stated, prayer is talking to God. We talk to God through prayer, and God talks to us through His Word, the Bible. For most of us, prayer was modeled for us. Someone close to us prayed with us and taught us how to talk to God.

Jesus prayed. He modeled what prayer looked like in deep relationship with His Father. He taught His disciples to pray, with the Lord’s Prayer. We pray to our Father in heaven in a similar way to how Jesus taught His disciples. This precious communication, the first connections of faith, is what our heavenly Father desires from His children.

When praying with children, help them:

• Use their own words.
• Encourage every effort.
• Have very young children repeat after you.
• Remind them God is near and He loves us.
• Teach them respect: God is great so I will honor Him with my words.

There are many tools and creative ideas to practice prayer with kids. The Prayer Hand is a great tool to help you remember to pray. Hold up your right hand and start with the thumb, using each finger as a prayer reminder. I’ll go through the Prayer Hand and then share an idea for each component:

Using the Prayer Hand

Praising (this is your thumb): I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. (Psalm 86:12)

One great way to praise God is to think about His character, His names, what He is like. Lead your group of children through the letters of the alphabet, praising God for who He is. “I praise You God for you are: almighty, beautiful, creator, deliverer …,” and on through the alphabet

Singing is another powerful way to teach children to praise God. Praise choruses and Scripture verses in song teach us and lift our hearts to our Lord.

Thanking (index finger): Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34)

Developing an attitude of gratitude is transformational for your kids. God loves thanksgiving! Kids get excited when God answers their prayers! It strengthens their faith and trust in Him.

• Lead kids to thank God for His answers.
• Point out answers to prayer when you see them.

Awana has provided lots of wonderful ideas to encourage prayer with children in the club small group guides. One of those ideas is a God Answers Prayer Poster. During your prayer time, let each child write or draw a picture of a praise or victory.  Take time to pray and thank God for those praises!

Confessing (middle finger): If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

A sample confession prayer you might use with children is: “Heavenly Father, You are holy and good. I have sinned against You.  I _______ (silently tell God specifically what you have done. We will be quiet while we each tell God the wrong things we have done.). I am sorry God, and if there is someone else I need to tell, I will do it. Thank You for forgiving me, in Jesus’ name Amen.”

Praying for Others (ring finger): Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Awana has done a terrific job of providing “Prayer Pages” in the small group guides that are tremendous in helping children pray for others, including those who are lost around the world. Take the time to faithfully do this each week. Your own prayers and attitudes are a powerful pattern for the children around you. They see your relationship with God and not ritual or repetition.

Praying for Yourself (little finger): I call on You, O God, for You will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 17:6)

In Awana, our desire is for kids to deeply internalize God’s Word, to Belong to Him, Believe in Him, and Become like Jesus. We can tell Him anything, anytime, anywhere. He will always answer with the best answer, the one that brings Him glory. Like parents, sometimes God says yes, sometimes no, sometimes wait, and sometimes I have something better to give you.

One way of “Praying for Yourself” is to pray Scripture to God, agreeing and speaking His own words back to Him. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God (God speaking to us) and prayer (our response to God) to build our faith and grow us closer to Jesus Christ.

For example, Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise Your Father in heaven.”

“Father, today, let my light shine, so the people around me can see me living for You and praising You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Download a PDF of the Prayer Hand with abbreviated directions.

The Prayer Hand is just one pattern to help kids praise, thank, confess, pray for others and pray for themselves. Your patient example will give kids time and encouragement to learn to talk to and know the heavenly Father who loves them.

Download the June Prayer Calendar

Please join us – and have your kids join us – in prayer all month as we lift up the needs of our brothers and sisters in Awana clubs around the world. Download the June prayer calendar and become a prayer partner. By becoming a prayer partner, you’ll have each month’s prayer calendar emailed to you automatically.