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.