How do our children see God based on the way we pray?
Do they picture Him as the almighty Creator of the universe, the Shepherd of their souls, the One who holds the galaxies in place and knows the number of hairs on their head? Or, if we’re honest, does He come across more like a fairy godmother who shows up at dinner and bedtime to bless the food and grant us a good night’s sleep?
Prayer is one of the most formative practices in the Christian life, and yet it’s something many of us were never really taught—especially when it comes to praying with our kids. We know we should, but we’re unsure of what it should sound like, feel like, or how to make it a natural part of family life.
If we want our children to know God, we must show them how to talk to Him. Below are five approachable ways to help our kids experience prayer in a way that is real, engaging, and deeply rooted in the character of God.
1. Sentence Prayers
Sometimes the simplest prayers are the most profound.
For younger children, sentence prayers can be a great starting point. You begin a sentence and let them finish it. This gives structure without scripting their relationship with God. Try these examples:
- “Lord, I thank you for …”
- “Lord, I’m sorry for…”
- “Lord, help my friend…”
- “Lord, give me the courage to…”
- “Lord, help me be more loving toward…”
This opens the door to a wider spiritual vocabulary, inviting kids to not just ask things of God, but also to thank Him, confess sin, and pray for others. It’s a subtle but powerful shift from a “gimme” prayer to a conversation with someone they trust.
With older children and teens, these prompts can be posed as open-ended questions. Ask, “What’s something you need courage for?” or “Is there anyone in your life who needs help right now?” Then, instead of launching into advice, pause and pray together.
“This opens the door to a wider spiritual vocabulary, inviting kids to not just ask things of God, but also to thank Him, confess sin, and pray for others.”
2. Show & Tell Prayers
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with your hands while you pray, you’re not alone—and neither are your kids.
For children, especially tactile learners, prayer can feel abstract. One way to bridge that gap is to invite them to hold something while they pray and let that object guide the conversation.
For example:
- At Christmas, let your child hold a baby doll and thank God for sending Jesus as a gift to the world.
- At Easter, they might hold a small wooden cross and reflect on Jesus’ love and sacrifice.
- You could even go through a family photo album together, stopping to thank God for joyful memories or to talk about how God helped during hard seasons.
This is a form of “show and tell” with God—giving physical form to spiritual thoughts and making prayer more relatable.
As your kids get older, you can adapt Show & Tell prayer by inviting them to choose objects that reflect what they’re going through. A report card might lead to a prayer about pressure and identity. A pair of running shoes could spark a conversation with God about perseverance or purpose. Even something as simple as their phone can become a prompt—thanking God for friendships, praying for someone they’ve been texting, or asking for wisdom in their digital life. The key is to help them connect their world to God’s presence in meaningful, tangible ways.
“The key is to help them connect their world to God’s presence in meaningful, tangible ways.”
3. Scripture Prayers
Scripture gives us the words when we don’t have our own.
One of the most powerful ways to pray is to pray the Bible—especially the Psalms. These ancient prayers cover the entire range of human emotion, from deep sorrow to soaring praise, and help teach us that no feeling is off-limits in God’s presence.
To practice this:
- Read a passage of Scripture aloud.
- Pause and reflect on what it reveals about God.
- Respond to Him in prayer using that same language.
For example, take a line from the Lord’s Prayer:
“Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.”
You might respond:
“God, I love you so much. You are better than anything else in the world. Help me live more like Jesus today.”
Or:
“Give us each day our daily bread.”
Then pray:
“Thank you for all you’ve given me—my home, my friends, and this food on the table. I trust you to take care of what I need tomorrow too.”
Over time, this helps your child see prayer not just as talking to God, but as talking with Him.
“This helps your child see prayer not just as talking to God, but as talking with Him.”
4. Highs & Lows
Prayer becomes even more powerful when we pray with others.
One of our favorite rhythms in youth group is sharing “highs and lows” (also known as “happy’s and crappy’s”). It’s simple: each person shares a highlight and a low point from their day or week. Then, as a group or as a family, you thank God for the highs and ask for help with the lows.
This practice creates space for vulnerability and connection. It helps kids learn to bring their whole selves to God—joys, sorrows, and everything in between. And when parents join in, it models honesty and openness.
Let your children pray for you too. When they hear your heart and get to lift you up in prayer, it reinforces that prayer isn’t just something adults do for kids—it’s something kids can do, too.
5. God Sightings
God is always speaking—we just need to slow down and listen.
“God sightings” are spontaneous moments when we notice where God is at work around us. These can happen anywhere: on a walk, in the car, during a meal, or while playing outside.
Ask questions like:
- “Where do you see God right now?”
- “How do you think God feels about this moment?”
- “Is there anything we can thank Him for right now?”
Nature walks are perfect for this. Point out a sunset, a buzzing bee, or the sound of the wind. Pause and pray together. The more you practice, the more your kids will begin to see the world as full of divine fingerprints.
“The more you practice, the more your kids will begin to see the world as full of divine fingerprints.”
Final Thoughts
The way we talk to God shapes the way we see Him. And the way we see Him shapes everything else.
Let’s show our children a God who is mighty and merciful, close
Let’s raise a generation who doesn’t just say prayers, but lives a life of prayer. A generation that knows how to thank God in the good, cry out in the hard, and invite Him into every ordinary moment in between.
Let’s pray to that God…and just see what happens next.
