| There are few things in life as precious as the prayers | | | | "the prayer" at the church alter. And that's usually after |
| of a young child. I love to hear our children pray, | | | | heavy discussion with the parents. But repentance is a |
| especially when they really express themselves well | | | | daily need for all of us -- not a one-time event. If you |
| and have their thoughts on other people. | | | | don't teach your children to have a repentant heart -- |
| But I've noticed something about a child's prayers: | | | | and to express it regularly -- what are you telling them |
| They are great barometers of where your child's | | | | about salvation? Remember, prayer is a barometer of |
| heart is before the Lord (Matthew 12:34 says, "For out | | | | their heart. If they never express repentance in their |
| of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks"). | | | | prayers, what is that telling you about their heart? |
| While they won't expose everything in their heart, you | | | | Obviously, the goal of teaching children to pray can't |
| can get a good idea of what the child is focused on | | | | be a simple "say these words" instruction. The overall |
| simply by listening to what they pray. | | | | training of your children must get them to put God as a |
| For instance, most children are quick to ask God for | | | | priority in daily life. That involves humbling themselves |
| something they want. That's easy. We all focus on | | | | before Him and acting in love for Him. It also requires |
| ourselves far more than we should and we all know | | | | doing the same thing toward others. |
| of things we want. And the fact that Jesus tells us to | | | | Of course, the best way to train them is to set the |
| ask makes asking a natural thing to do. But if our | | | | example. You can tell them how to pray all you want. |
| prayers stop there, it should alert us to the fact that | | | | And you can tell them every day how to live and set |
| our children are too focused on themselves. | | | | their priorities. But until you show them how to do it, |
| Perhaps the most difficult area for anyone to pray | | | | they probably won't get it. If this isn't something you do |
| about is repentance. This is especially tough for | | | | well, then tell your children that all of you need to |
| children. We know that repentance is a key | | | | improve in this area and that all of you will work on it |
| component of salvation. Unfortunately, the only time | | | | together. |
| most children repent in their prayers is when they pray | | | | |