Heartprints

Dear God…”Thank You For Listening”


Dear God…..
Thank you for sending Jesus to the world to save us from our sins. Also, I want to say thank you for my family. Thank you for my pet, Rusty. Thank you for all my friends and thank you for letting me be born healthy. I also need to say thank you for watching over me. Thank you for great food.
Kevin age 9


Dear God…..
Thank you for sending Jesus to the world to save us from our sins. Also, I want to say thank you for my family. Thank you for my pet, Rusty. Thank you for all my friends and thank you for letting me be born healthy. I also need to say thank you for watching over me. Thank you for great food.
Kevin age 9


Thanksgiving was quickly approaching…the start of the holiday season. It was a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, the lesson for that particular Sunday morning was on prayer. As I walked down the hall, peeking into the classrooms, I noticed that the children were engaged in learning and focused on the lesson as they shared and participated in the planned activities of the day. Teachers were using creative teaching methods to engage the children as they imparted God’s word on prayer. It was at the end of the lesson that children were asked to write a prayer of thanks to God. For some children this activity was a bit of a challenge, due to their lack of understanding and knowledge of prayer. However, for most of the children this assignment was very easy to complete because they prayed to God every day. The prayer above was written by a fourth grade boy on that day, giving thanks to God with a child’s understanding of thankfulness.


Prayer is our direct line to God. It is the way God has provided for us to communicate with Him. In the Old and the New Testament, prayers were lifted up to God through petitions, repentance, praise, and thanksgiving. When we teach our children to seek God with all of their heart, soul, and mind through the avenue of prayer, we are encouraging them to have access to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the One who hears all, knows all, and will commune with all who ask. His gifts, benefits, and blessings out-way anything we have to offer and His access will provide us with peace and joy.


Teaching children to pray to Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe, our Father, our Teacher, our Guide, and our Friend is foundational in their understanding of who God is. Children who commune with God through prayer will develop a deeper understanding of who He is and His sovereign power over their lives. When a child has this understanding regarding prayer, then he or she will be equipped to face the problems of this world.


When we pray with children, do we teach them the significance, importance, and the reason why we pray? Do we model prayer as submission and communication to God? Do we allow children to pray in the classroom and allow them to share how God has answered their prayers? If we desire for children to seek an intimate relationship with God, then we must take prayer seriously and encourage them to seek God through prayer and to thank Him for all His answers.


Dear God…Thank You for Listening!
 

Lisa Goodyear holds a Master of Arts degree in Christian Education, with a focus in Children's Ministry, from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has over twenty-eight years of local children's ministry, as well as an extensive background in early childhood education and international ministry to children. Currently, she is serving with the family/children’s ministry in her local church in Shawnee, Kansas. Lisa's passion is to see children from every nation, tongue, and tribe trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and grow in their relationship with Him. She is married to Rolla and they have two grown children and three grandchildren and a little Yorkie, Romeo. Lisa lives in Olathe, Kansas.

2 Comments

  • Bella Cranick

    This prayer reminded me that

    This prayer reminded me that lately my prayers and have had little praise and much crying out for help. "God, I don't know what to do about this, and God please help with this, God why have you put this is in my life?" 

     

    I need to thank God for the little things like pets and being born. God gets me through everyday, and the only thing I want to point out is what I didn't like and what didn't go my way. 

    • Lisa Goodyear

      Hi Bella,
      Remember, God

      Hi Bella,

      Remember, God hears your prayer and is always with you. He will never leave nor forsake you and desires to help you in every area of your life. Continue to seek Him and read His word for your answers.

      It is hard to wait for God's answers, but sometimes that is the best. God knows what is best for you and He desires to help you according to His will. Keep praying and reading His word. Stay focused on Him and He will answer you according to His plan for your life.

      Always thank Him for His blessings daily, yes those little things, because all things come from God.