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