Introduction
Are you willing to let your kids see your real prayer life, not just hear you tell them to pray, but watch you depend on God, repent, give thanks, and wait on His timing? The central teaching is this: kids learn to pray best when we model a life that imitates God, bringing them with us into honest, Scripture-shaped communication with the Father, both at home and in the church family (Eph. 5:1–2; 6:1–4). Prayer with children isn’t mainly about finding the perfect words. It’s about forming a household culture where God is normal to talk to, where love is visible, and where faith is practiced together.
Main Points
Are you willing to let your kids see your real prayer life, not just hear you tell them to pray, but watch you depend on God, repent, give thanks, and wait on His timing? The central teaching is this: kids learn to pray best when we model a life that imitates God, bringing them with us into honest, Scripture-shaped communication with the Father, both at home and in the church family (Eph. 5:1–2; 6:1–4).
Prayer with children isn’t mainly about finding the perfect words. It’s about forming a household culture where God is normal to talk to, where love is visible, and where faith is practiced together.
Imitate God, Then Invite Kids In
Scripture gives us a foundation for how discipleship works in the home. Paul calls all believers to “be imitators of God, as beloved children” and to “walk in love, as Christ loved us” (Eph. 5:1–2). Then he applies that gospel-shaped living to family dynamics: children are to obey and honor (Eph. 6:1–3), and parents, especially fathers, must not provoke their children but bring them up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).
That means I can’t hide behind “Do what I say, not what I do.” In prayer especially, kids learn what’s real by what they observe. If I want them to pray, I need to let them see me pray, simply, consistently, and sincerely. And when I fail (because I will), I can model humility rather than hypocrisy.
Build a Whole-Prayer Picture, Not A Wish List
Many kids assume prayer is mainly asking God for stuff, and honestly, adults often default to that too. But part of discipling kids is helping them see prayer as ongoing communication with God about all of life.
So I want to expose them to different kinds of prayer:
- Asking (bringing needs to God)
- Listening and quiet (learning that prayer isn’t only talking)
- Worship and adoration (telling God we love Him and He is great)
- Thanksgiving (noticing gifts and saying thank you)
- Confession (agreeing with God about sin and receiving forgiveness)
This doesn’t require “extreme” or elaborate prayer moments. It can be simple: “Let’s talk to God about this,” or “Let’s be quiet before the Lord for a minute.” Kids often have a freedom and openness that actually helps us as adults learn again how to come to God with awe and honesty.
Practice Silence, Wonder, And Holy Imagination
One powerful way to disciple kids is to create small spaces where they can slow down and “be with God.” For example, I can lead a short moment of quiet, just a couple minutes, and invite them to think about heaven, God’s goodness, or something they’re grateful for.
When we do this, kids may say things that are hilarious, creative, or deeply insightful. Those moments become memories, but they also become discipleship opportunities. If something reveals confusion, I can gently guide them back to Scripture: “That’s an interesting thought. Let’s look at what God’s Word says about that.” Wonder opens the door to theology, and quiet moments create room for God to shape the heart.
Let Them See Needs, So They See God Provide
One of the most faith-forming gifts I can give my children is letting them participate in real prayers for real needs, within what is wise and appropriate.
When someone is sick, when there’s financial pressure, when we need wisdom, when we’re anxious, rather than shielding kids from everything, I can invite them into prayer. Then, when God provides, they get to witness His faithfulness in real time. That produces “core memories” of God answering prayer, stories they carry into adulthood.
And I also want to teach them the other side: sometimes we pray and wait. Sometimes God’s answer isn’t immediate, or it isn’t what we expected. If kids only ever see instant outcomes, they may assume God is absent when waiting comes. But if they learn early that waiting is normal, their faith becomes resilient.
Train Thanksgiving Into Your Family Culture
Discipleship isn’t only about crisis moments. It’s also about teaching kids to recognize grace.
I can stop in the middle of an ordinary day and say, “Let’s thank God for that.” A great practice is a simple family rhythm, like at dinner, where we name:
- one good thing God has given,
- one hard thing we need help with,
- and (when needed) something we should confess or make right.
This trains kids to interpret life through worship instead of entitlement. Thanksgiving isn’t just good manners, it’s spiritual formation.
Model Confession And Make Forgiveness Normal
One of the most powerful discipleship moments is when I, the parent, repent.
If I spoke harshly, provoked my child, acted out of character, or sinned against my family, I can say, “I was wrong,” and then pray: “God, I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Help me walk like Jesus.” Then I can ask my child’s forgiveness too.
This does at least three things:
- It shows kids that Christianity is not performance, it’s repentance and grace.
- It teaches them how to bring sin into the light.
- It creates safety for them to confess too, sometimes about small “kid” things, sometimes about bigger heart issues.
Confession becomes a pathway to joy and freedom, not shame.
Use The Lord’s Prayer As A Training Anchor
When we don’t know where to start, Jesus gives us a model. When the disciples asked how to pray, Jesus taught them what we call the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4). If I’m discipling kids, this is one of the best passages to memorize and pray together, because it shapes everything:
- God’s holiness (“hallowed be your name”)
- God’s kingdom priorities
- daily dependence
- forgiveness and repentance
- spiritual protection and guidance
We can pray it straight through, or go line by line slowly, letting each phrase become our own words for our family’s current season. For many of us (adults included), it’s also an “anchor prayer” when anxiety is high and we need God to settle our hearts.
Create Simple Rhythms That Make Prayer Normal
Kids are formed by repeated practices. So I want to attach prayer to regular moments that already exist, because that makes it sustainable.
One example is using the drive to school as prayer time: everyone is in the car, distractions are limited, and the day is about to begin. I can invite a child to lead, allow others to add, and then I close. Over time, it becomes a normal rhythm, not an occasional event.
It doesn’t have to be school drop-off. It could be bedtime, meals, walking the dog, or the first five minutes after everyone gets home. The goal is simple: build a life where prayer is woven into the fabric of our days.
Conclusion
Discipling kids in prayer begins with me imitating God as His beloved child (Eph. 5:1–2) and embracing my calling to bring children up in the Lord (Eph. 6:4). I want you to see that you don’t need to be impressive, you need to be present, consistent, and sincere.
So here’s what I want you to do this week: choose one rhythm (car rides, dinner, bedtime), choose one prayer focus (thanksgiving, confession, asking, or the Lord’s Prayer), and invite your kids to practice with you. Let them see you depend on God. Let them see you wait. Let them see you worship. And when you fail, let them see you repent.
God will use those small moments to build a lasting faith.
Father in heaven, thank You that You have made us Your beloved children through Jesus. Help me imitate You and walk in love the way Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. Forgive me for the times I have expected my children to do what I have not modeled, and forgive me for provoking them instead of leading them in Your ways.
Teach our family to pray. Give us simple, steady rhythms where we talk with You about everything, our needs, our fears, our joys, and our sins. Train our hearts to give thanks, to worship You, and to confess quickly when we are wrong. Strengthen our children’s faith as they see You provide, and give them patience to trust You when answers take time.
Lord, anchor us in the words Jesus taught us to pray. Form our home and our church family into a community where children are loved, discipled, and drawn to You. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Conclusion
Discipling kids in prayer begins with me imitating God as His beloved child (Eph. 5:1–2) and embracing my calling to bring children up in the Lord (Eph. 6:4). I want you to see that you don’t need to be impressive, you need to be present, consistent, and sincere.
So here’s what I want you to do this week: choose one rhythm (car rides, dinner, bedtime), choose one prayer focus (thanksgiving, confession, asking, or the Lord’s Prayer), and invite your kids to practice with you. Let them see you depend on God. Let them see you wait. Let them see you worship. And when you fail, let them see you repent.
God will use those small moments to build a lasting faith.
Closing Prayer
Father in heaven, thank You that You have made us Your beloved children through Jesus. Help me imitate You and walk in love the way Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. Forgive me for the times I have expected my children to do what I have not modeled, and forgive me for provoking them instead of leading them in Your ways.
Teach our family to pray. Give us simple, steady rhythms where we talk with You about everything, our needs, our fears, our joys, and our sins. Train our hearts to give thanks, to worship You, and to confess quickly when we are wrong. Strengthen our children’s faith as they see You provide, and give them patience to trust You when answers take time.
Lord, anchor us in the words Jesus taught us to pray. Form our home and our church family into a community where children are loved, discipled, and drawn to You. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.