Prayer Jars
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Dear Mom/Dad/Grandma, Grandpa/Sunday School Teacher:
Having a prayer answered and knowing it was God is an experience every child should have early in life. The child who does not experience at least one answered prayer is not likely to develop a HABIT of praying with others… the one thing most likely to connect him to a church for life. The following simple craft could be the most important your family/Sunday School class ever tries. It is equally valid for teens and small children.
PRAYER JARS: Personally I like plastic peanut butter Jars. Yogurt, butter or Cottage Cheese tubs work equally well but there is something about an empty peanut butter jar that warms my heart. Each child puts two labels on his own jar/tub. I like standard size mailing labels from almost any office supply store. On one label write “From Me to Jesus” On the other write “From Jesus to me.”. Every prayer we pray should be like the jar…two sided. On e side d prayer “From me to Jesus” just doesn’t work well. The important part is the “From Jesus to Me”
Part…the expecting waiting part.
Once every child has a jar take turns praying one sentence prayers out loud. Avoid too much coaching. Jesus said “Let the little children come unto me.” Have a little faith and give the kids a little room. It may however be wise to help a child think about “WHY” he prayed as he did. The real prayer often has more to do with what he is feeling than what he says. An important lesson in prayer is to appeal to God’s heart rather than his hand. “He is touched by our infirmities” much more than our wants. A child who prays about his feelings is taking a BIG step toward a richer deeper prayer life.
Once each child has chosen a one sentence prayer write it on a slip of paper and put it in his jar/tub. Remember to put the children’s names on their jar then line them up on a shelf or put them in a special box. The following week go through the requests one by one. If the child FEELS God has answered his prayer allow him to take the prayer out of the jar. If NOT put the prayer back in the jar. Pray with the child and invite others to pray with you. Praying with others has to START somewhere.
The key to the exercise is to stick with each child/prayer until the request is answered. God does and so should we. Some parents/teachers may wish to invite the pastor or even the whole congregation to add their prayers to the prayers of the child. In the end no child will ever forget his/her FIRST answered prayer.
Like reading or riding a bike it will be something they remember always… something your family/church will remember too. Like riding a bike the four great secrets to prayer are practice, practice, practice and more practice. You may want to keep a shelf of prayer jars as a permanent part of your home/classroom.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charles White is a retired pre school teacher in Topeka Ks. His 30 year collection of tips on teaching prayer can be viewed at www.teachustopray.com.
