If your faith includes a personal God who can hear you, then talking to God is really quite simple. Approach God like you would your father. Be respectful but also be assured that He is going to accept you and hear you. Here are some natural times for prayer.
At Mealtime: Mealtime prayers do several things for families. First, they remind us that we are indebted to a benevolent God. Second, they remind us to be grateful for our blessings. Third, they set the tone for the family meal. Many families have a traditional prayer that they use to say “Grace.”
At Bedtime: Bedtime prayers connect us to God and to our family and friends as we give thanks for the relationships we have and ask for God’s blessing and protection. They are also a great time to bring up requests for those who are sick or struggling in life. Through prayer we can place our cares in God’s hands before going to sleep. It is also a great opportunity to snuggle with the kids and comfort them before retiring for the night.
Before big events: Concerts, plays, recitals and athletic events are times of great anxiety. Praying before these events provides a brief respite from the anxiety and gives us an opportunity to ask God to help us do our best. Your kids will appreciate you taking the time to present their cares to God.
Before travel: A prayer for protection and safety on the roads or in the air is a good way to make prayer a regular event and acknowledge that we need someone to help us through daily life.
During times of tragedy: As a nation, we have always turned to prayer when bad things happen. For individuals, prayer is just as important. There is comfort and peace in laying our cares on God in times of need. For children, it provides an extra layer of comfort while they sort things out in their minds and emotions.
