Prayer is better than talking to your best friend.
Prayer is one of the most important parts of your relationship with God. It’s like talking to your best friend — but even better, because God always listens, always cares, and always has time for you!
You might have some questions about prayer:
- Why is prayer such a big deal?
- Can I really trust God to answer my prayers?
- How should I talk to God — and when?
- Where should I pray?
- How often should I pray to have a healthy prayer life?
The following outline suggests a prayer theme you can follow with children from a Monday to a Friday. It will help them discover short answers to these questions and grow together in prayer!
Day 1: What Is Prayer?
Prayer is talking to God — and listening when He speaks to us!
We talk to our friends and family every day. God is our Friend and our heavenly Father. He loves when we talk to Him and wants to talk to us too.
Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, I love You and want to speak to You more often. Please remind me to talk to You throughout the day! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Today’s Challenge:
Pray this prayer several times today. At the end of the day, write down what you think God has been saying to you.
Day 2: Why Should We Pray?
There are many reasons to pray!
- To thank and praise the Lord.
- To confess our sins.
- To ask for His help with our problems.
- To ask Him to help others.
- Just to share what’s on our hearts with our Heavenly Father.
Prayer for Today:
Father, thank You for my life and that I can tell You anything that happens in it. Help me remember to speak to You about my problems until they disappear, so that others can also come to know that You are real. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Day 3: How Should We Pray?
You can pray with your eyes closed, bow your head, or kneel — these show respect for God. But you can also pray while walking to school, riding the bus or taxi, or even when you wake up scared in the night!
Always pray in Jesus’ Name, because Jesus told us to ask the Father in His Name. Through His cross and His blood, He made a way for us to come freely to God (John 16:23b).
Prayer for Today:
Lord Jesus, teach me how You want me to talk to You. Help me remember that at any time and in any place, I can speak to You, and You are never far away. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Day 4: When Should We Pray?
People in the Bible show us that we can pray at any time! 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.”
There’s never a bad time to pray — God is always ready to hear you.
Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are always awake and listening to my prayers. You never get tired and You are always available to help me, day and night! Remind me to pray all the time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Day 5: Where Should We Pray?
You can pray anywhere! The Bible says that God is everywhere, so no matter where you are — whether in a hard place or a scary situation — you can pray and He will hear you.
Prayer for Today:
Thank You, Heavenly Father, that You are with me, even when I feel scared or when something bad happens. Thank You that I can always cry out to You, day or night. I put my trust in You alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A last thought
Remember, prayer is powerful because God loves you! The more you pray, the more you’ll grow strong in your faith. Keep talking to Him every day!
