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10 Ideas for Family Prayer Time · 5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids.

• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to another episode of 5-Minute Parenting.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: Today I'm going to share 10 ideas for family prayer time.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: It's important to start early to help our children learn how to pray.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: And what better way than to model and practice prayer with a regular family prayer time?
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: If possible, set a regular time for it, perhaps once a week, right after dinner, or sometime during the weekend.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: Try to be consistent.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps even schedule a fun family activity together right after prayer time.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: Keep it short for younger family members.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: And summer would be a great time to start a family prayer time as kids are not busy with school and their usual school routine.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: Number one, teach your children how to pray sentence prayers.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Go around the room and ask each person to thank God for one thing that happened that week or that day.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, I thank you for, and have them fill in the blank.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: Parents should pray first so that they can model what one-sentence prayers are.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: Then the next time you have family time, perhaps pray a one-sentence prayer for someone else.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, please help Grandpa feel better.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, create three prayer jars or containers of some sort for one prayer request, two for praises and thanksgiving, and three for answered prayer.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: And keep slips of paper and pencils near the containers so family members can write down prayer requests, praises, and answered prayers.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: Before the family gathers for prayer time, a parent needs to separate the slips in the jars and organize so that the family can pray together.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: Number three, another option is to create or purchase a family prayer calendar and have everyone write down prayers for the week on the calendar.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: Then pray these prayers together during family prayer time.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: Number four, teach your children to pray throughout the day.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: When something good happens, encourage them to stop and offer a one-sentence thanks to God.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: When a problem arises, encourage them to stop and pray for God's help.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: Have them stop and pray when they hear an ambulance or see an accident and model that kind of prayer for them when you are with them.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: Number five, help your children begin a prayer journal.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: Purchase a notebook for each child and encourage them to decorate it.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: Then have them begin to enter their prayer request in their own prayer journal.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: Encourage them to keep track of answered prayers and so forth, perhaps with special stickers.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: Younger children can draw pictures or cut out pictures from magazines of the things they want to pray about.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: Number six, encourage your children to pray for each other, for each other's activities and needs in the family.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: God help Sis to pass her test in school today.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: Seven, as a family, choose a missionary or some Christian charity to pray for together and perhaps even support financially or in some other way.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: Eight, go on a prayer walk in the neighborhood and pray one sentence prayers.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, help our neighbor come to know you and to know that you love them.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: Take a walk in the park and thank God for the beauty of his creation.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: The birds, the trees, the flowers, the sunsets, and so forth.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: Ten, as parents, pray blessings over your children.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Some parents even put their hands on their children's heads as they bless them.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: Pray scripture over them.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: Thank God for them and for the gifts that God has given them.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: Pray encouragement and protection over them.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: Your child will remember those prayers and they will learn to pray them for others.