Power Prayer: Prayers for the Novice Pray-er

Not everyone is comfortable with praying…particularly out loud. I know. I was one of those folks for many years. But along came my kiddos, and from the start, I knew I wanted my children to have a close, interactive relationship with God. I also knew that my husband and I could not do this parenting gig “alone,” so we beefed up our prayer life and turned to our Heavenly Father for guidance and support.

If you have the desire to pray, but are not sure how to begin, here are a few tips to get you going.

Baby-Steps

• Give thanks. Mealtime blessings are great way to connect as family around the table and offer thanks to God for our food.
• Ask for strength. Silently or out loud, eyes open or closed (it totally doesn’t matter), “Heavenly Father, I’m feeling exhausted and stressed out. Please give me the strength to make it through the day.”
• Ask for perspective. God maintains perfect perspective even when we’re in the midst of ugly. “Lord, help me look past this Terrible Twos Tantrum and see my daughter just as you do, precious and lovable.”
• Say Goodnight. As you lay your child in bed each night, say a soft prayer to help sooth him or her to sleep, thank God for a specific blessing you experienced that day, and ask God for peace and protection during the night.

It may feel uncomfortable at first, but take comfort in knowing there is really no wrong way to pray!  And learning to pray is one of the most powerful gifts you can give yourself and your children.  Besides, God is never too busy to hear our prayers. In fact, He waits expectantly to hear from us.