Intentional Faith PathPlan
Child’sName:
How will you be intentional this nextyear?
DPraydailyforandwithmychild.
DConsistentlyspendtimeinGod’sWord.
DBlessmychilddaily.
DScheduleandhaveregularfamilytimes.
D
ThenextstepontheFaithPathisBible,recommendedatageseven. We will offer a free Bible kit to guide you.
RecommendedResources
PrayBigforYourChildbyWillDavis,Jr.
CreativeFamilyPrayerTimesbyMikeandAmyNappaWhatHappensWhenITalktoGodbyStormieOmartianPowerofaPrayingKidbyStormieOmartian
Prayer
Teach Your Child to Talk toGod
Oneofthegreatestthingsyoucandoistohelpyourchilddeveloparelationship with God through prayer. Prayer is how wecommunicate withandconnecttoourHeavenlyFather.Nurture yourchild’sfaithbyprayingtogetherasafamilyandbyguidingtheminthe practice of prayingindividually.
Be anExample
Allowyourchildtoseeandhearyouprayonaregularbasis.TaketimetostopandgivethanksintimeswhenGodblessesyouoranswersaprayer.Modelprayerintimesofdifficultyorwhenseekingwisdomforimportantdecisions.Prayforthoseinyourfamilyandothers you know are inneed.
Jump StartPrayers
Usetheseideastohelpstartprayertimewithyourchild.
•SentencePrayers:Taketurnsallowingeachpersonwhoiscomfortabledoingsotoprayaveryshort,onesentenceprayer.Itcanbeassimpleas“PleasehealUnclePaul.”“ThankyouforgivingTroyanewfriend.”or“I’msorryforlosingmytemperwith everyone earliertoday.”
•Fill-in-the-Blank Prayers: Use pre-written language to guideandfocusprayertimessuchasthefollowingstarterlines:
•God,Iloveyoubecause…
•Thank you Godfor…
•God, pleasehelp…
•God, I’m sorryfor…
Prayer Tools andIdeas
•PrayerBoard:Keepadryeraseboardorthecalendarincludedwiththiskitinahightrafficareaofyourhomeanduseittonoteitemsthefamilyisprayingfortogether.
•PrayerJournal:ConsiderpurchasingajournalforyourchildtostartrecordingprayersandhowGodanswersthem.
•Mirrorprayers:Usingadryerasemarker,writealistofprayerconcernsonthechild’sbathroommirrorsoheorsherememberstopauseandprayafterbrushingteeth.
FamilyRoutine
Makingprayeraregularpartofyourfamilyculturewillhelpmakeita normal part of your child’s life. Consider incorporating some of thefollowing in your familyroutine.
•Mealtime:Brieflygivethanksbeforeyoueat,thenwaituntileveryonehasfinishedtohavealongertimeofprayertogether.
•Bedtime:Thefirstpersoninthefamilytogotobed(usuallytheyoungest)alertseveryoneelsethatitistimeforanend-of-dayprayertogether.
•Drivetime:Asyoustarttheengine,pauseforabriefprayertogetheraskingGodtogowithyouandinviteeveryonetoprayasentenceprayerforanyconcernabouttheupcomingactivitiesoftheday.Thisisagreatroutinetobeginasyoudrivetoschoolinthemorning.
•Walks:Takingawalktogetheristheidealtimetopray.Orpauseattheendtoprayaboutthemattersdiscussedduringyourwalk.