Teaching Our Children to Pray

July 6, 2026

Summertime humidity hung thick in the late afternoon air. A wave of heat rolled out of the driver’s van door as I opened it. Seating myself in the sauna-like atmosphere of our Toyota Sienna, I attempted to crank the van, fully expecting it to start at my command.

Nothing happened. The key would not even turn in the ignition.

Another attempt and still no start.

After multiple tries, I went into the house for a breath of cooler air (and to cool off my frustration).

I walked back out to the van, childishly hoping all would be all. Another attempt and still nothing happened. Reaching the end of my limited mechanical knowledge, I texted hubby who was waiting for us at our usual Friday night restaurant.

Neither my husband nor I could figure out what was happening.

Out of desperation, I typed on my phone, “Why won’t my Toyota Sienna start?” and an immediate solution popped up. I tried the solution, and low and behold, the van cranked!

No sooner had I cranked the van, when one of my children came out to my side.

“Mommy, we prayed that the van would start,” he said with his usual trusting smile.

“I’m so proud of you. God cares about our days and about little problems like this,” I said.

“Yeah, you don’t know this, but sometimes we pray about things without you,” he proudly informed me.

I stared at my son in pleased surprise.

“Really? That’s wonderful!” I enthused.

My heart was warmed in that moment more than my children will ever know. In that moment, I realized that of the thousands of God-dependent seeds my husband and I had planted in our children’s hearts, some were obviously sprouting and taking root. Our kids were getting it—a life of dependence on God, the only One Who can truly help them through this troubled life.

We need God in the daily and the ordinary. Yet how often do we as parents try to muscle our ways through our days without any outward show of dependence on God? Do we think that stopping to pray is somehow a sign of weakness or a lack of diligence on our parts?

Yes, God expects us to do our parts. But when we have done our parts and the end still comes up short, God patiently waits for us to ask in childlike faith for His help. He isn’t trying to make our lives difficult. God is reminding us to live dependently on Him just as any trusting child lives dependently on loving parents.

Do we stop to pray? Do we teach our children that God is interested in our lives, even tiny details?

God doesn’t want us just to pray about the big stuff. He wants to hear us ask for help in the mundane, often annoying trials of life.

Sometimes we as Christians parents can get so caught up in the “proper way to do things” as we attempt to teach our children the “proper way how to pray.” Yet sometimes we just need to show our children to pray. The how is so often found in the doing.

Modeling a Prayer Life

If praying with your children seems strange or you don’t know where to start in teaching them about a vibrant prayer life, maybe give one of these ideas a try.

• Let your kids see you praying in the morning (or any time of day). Often when my children come downstairs in the morning, I am not done with my quiet time with the Lord. Instead of immediately looking up at my children, I continue to pray and my children observe me spending time with the Lord.

  
  

• Pray together, not just at meal times. We usually spend a few minutes of time praying together in our morning bible time.

  
  

• When a problem arises in the day, take a moment to talk to God with your children. Let your children see that you are quick to run to God for help and aid.

  
  

• Before taking a trip in your vehicle (even around town), ask God for safety or ask one of your children to pray for safety and success in your trip.

  
  

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Friend, there truly is power in prayer. The God of the universe is ready and lovingly willing to help us if we will only seek His compassionate face. There is power in your children watching you pray. And there is power in a child’s prayer, no matter how short the prayer or tiny the voice.

A child is never too young to begin a journey of God-dependence.

-Ashley

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