Pray Like a Child
By: Jennifer Kinnison, Houston, TX
A few months ago we were putting our kiddos to bed and my oldest son, who was 5 at the time, was having a rough day all around. Most parents have been there (more often than I like to admit). My husband and I turned off the lights and as we were leaving, we overheard him say “Dear God, please help me not be grumpy tomorrow.”
We giggled as we heard him pray, but now, as I reflect on the sentiment a few months later, I could not be more proud of my little boy. He recognized what was going on, and what was his immediate reaction? To go to God in prayer and ask for His help. In that moment, I prayed to God and asked him to help me be more like my son and immediately go to Him in prayer, no matter how trivial my concern might be at the time.
The scenario above made me start wondering…how much richer would my prayer life be if I learned to pray like a child? This is a Biblical principle, as we hear Jesus say in Matthew 18 - “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4) We’ve heard the term “child-like faith” frequently in our lives, but how does that apply to my prayer life?
When we go to God in prayer, to pray like a child, we should pray exactly what’s on our mind. Are we just having a blah day? Did you watch a beautiful sunset as you were driving down the road? Whatever is on your mind at that moment, send it up to God! Like all parents of young ones, we hear all kinds of hilarious things that our boys thank God for - anywhere from the same chicken nuggets they’ve had 10 days in a row to their new Spiderman underwear. And while it’s funny to hear in the moment, it’s reassuring to know that they are growing up with thankful hearts.
Another way to pray like a child is to ask God for the impossible. Have you ever heard a kid ask God to go to space, or something else that we deem truly impossible? Why not ask God what is on our heart, no matter how impossible it might seem? Whether it’s scoring that new job that we think we’re not qualified for, or curing someone of an “incurable disease”, as Jesus said to his disciples and as the angel said to Mary, nothing is impossible with God. (Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:37). He further says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).
One more way that kids can show us how to pray is how simply they pray. They pray what’s on their hearts, and that’s it. I think too often, we can get caught up in the, what I call “fluffy” words, and think our prayer needs to be a formal monologue of sorts to speak with our God. While there might be a time and a place for those situations, God doesn’t ask specifically for that. He asks us to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
As we go throughout this week, I encourage you to keep this in mind and pray like a child! Pray simply. Pray what’s on your heart. Pray without ceasing. And may God bless you all.