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When my son was only four years old, to my delight he already had a tender heart for God. One night after bedtime prayers he said, “Mommy, I love God so much. I love Him from the top of our house to the bottom of the floor, then one billion inches down, and then back to the sky. That’s how much I love Him. That’s a lot. It’s like 100 plus 50.” After he said that, I ran to my computer to type it all down. It was a moment to capture and remember.
There’s something very special about a young child praying to God. But come to think of it, you are a child of your heavenly Father. Is it possible to feel younger simply by praying like a child? How do you display childlike faith and perhaps unlearn some of those grown-up, stiff, predictable prayers? Here are a few things I’ve learned about childlike praying from my kids, Ethan and Noelle.
It’s a common scene at breakfast. My kids Ethan, age five, and Noelle, age two, are seated around the table. I say, “Who wants to pray?” and both kids shout out “Me!” Their little hands shoot toward to the sky, urging me to pick them for this special distinction. I try my best to be fair and have them take turns, but regardless of who is chosen, both end up chiming in before the final amen. They are enthusiastic about prayer.
Now imagine you’re at an adult prayer meeting at church. The pastor asks for volunteers to pray. Several seconds go by in silence. Finally, the woman in the third row who always volunteers lifts her hand. The rest of the congregation feels relieved that they don’t have to pray out loud.
Whatever happened to that “pick me” enthusiasm? I’m not talking about being shy or outgoing; whether you pray aloud in public or alone in your room doesn’t matter. The point is, when it’s time to pray, do you think, That’s wonderful. Count me in. Or do you sigh, Okay, I guess I should. To be childlike, you must pray with enthusiasm.
I teach a Sunday school class for three-year-olds, and without fail, every week someone has a boo-boo to show off. Whether it’s a skinned knee, ankle, or elbow, the story is the same: Look at what happened to me. Will you pray it gets better? When you’re three years old, a boo-boo is a big deal, even if it happened a week ago and can barely be seen without a magnifying glass.
What are the needs—the cuts, the scrapes—in your life right now? Are there concerns weighing on your heart and mind? Come to God with your needs. He is waiting to give you comfort and healing. He’s never too busy to hear about your boo-boos—no matter how big or small.
For months my son has been praying about the same thing. Every night he ends his prayer with, “Help us to find #1 and #5. Amen.” Those numbers refer to racecars he misplaced eons ago. Although I can’t remember what they look like, he can, and he prays about them every single day. Ethan’s prayer reminds me of Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Be persistent in your prayers—ask, seek, knock—and God will answer you in due time.
I love when kids pray because they are so brutally honest. Like this prayer found in a charming gift book called Children’s Letters to God:
Dear God,
It rained for our whole vacation and is my father mad. He said some things about you that people are not supposed to say, but I hope you will not hurt him anyway.
Your friend (but I am not going to tell you who I am)17
Isn’t that funny? Take a cue from this anonymous boy or girl. Don’t be afraid to be honest with your feelings, questions, confessions, and frustrations. God wants you to be completely honest—He can handle it.
Every parent wants their children to learn to say “please” and “thank you.” Common courtesy applies in prayer too. It’s not only polite to thank God for His many blessings; a heart of thanksgiving will keep you from becoming an old sourpuss.
I love a drama by my friend Paul Joiner titled “Treasured Prayers.” Allow me to set the scene. It’s Thanksgiving, and a single mom has invited her three grown children to share the holiday together. The three kids are irritated by their mother’s attitude of thanksgiving despite her many hardships. They refuse to celebrate a holiday they don’t believe in, and the conversation becomes tense and hostile. When her daughter declares God never helped them, the mother picks up a small wooden chest. Inside the chest are dozens of pieces of paper with writing on both sides.
The mother had written her prayer requests through the years for ice skates, asthma medicine, trips to Disneyland, and college scholarships. When each prayer was answered, she’d record the answer on the back. Her greatest treasure was this little humble wooden box filled with answered prayers.
Touched by their mother’s faith, the children gather around their mom with a fresh understanding of how God had provided for them throughout their childhood. The drama ends with the mom saying that God had answered yet another prayer: that her children would come together to celebrate Thanksgiving as a family.18
Maybe it’s time for you to begin a prayer box filled with your requests and then the answers as they come. Or you can list your needs in a journal and then check them off as God provides (don’t forget to date them too). When you have a tangible reminder of the prayers God has answered, your faith will soar like a child’s.
Prayer is good not only for your soul; it’s good for your physical health too. One article reports you can expect to live seven years longer if you nurture your soul through prayer, faith, and religious involvement. Studies have shown a strong correlation between heart health and religious faith. Praying patients who entered open-heart surgery were three times more likely to survive the surgery than people with no spiritual background.19 Even if some in the medical profession compare prayer to a placebo, no one can argue with the benefits. Praying keeps you calm, provides peace during hard times, and gives a tremendous sense of hope.
Corrie ten Boom said it this way: “As a camel kneels before his master to have him remove his burden, so kneel and let the Master take your burden.”20 Why struggle with a heavy load of concern when you have a heavenly Father who offers to carry your burdens for you? First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Save your back, stay young, and hand over your heavy burdens to your Father in heaven.
Thought for Rejuvenation
Say this prayer out loud:
Lord, I thank You for being my heavenly Father. I’m so glad You are always with me. I love You with all of my heart. Give me the faith and innocence of a child. Help me to trust in You more. I give my burdens and anxieties to You. Please help me with (name your specific concerns). Thank You for hearing and answering this prayer. Every good and perfect gift is from You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Act of eXpression
Begin a prayer journal or prayer box. Write down a prayer request and record how God answers.