Years ago, when my daughter Michelle was 4 years old, Cabbage Patch Kids dolls were so popular. All of her friends had one, but we could not afford to buy her one. They were $45 at the time, and we could barely put food on the table, so we certainly did not have that kind of money to buy a doll. I told my daughter to pray about it, and she did.
The very next weekend, my daughter had not one but two Cabbage Patch Kids dolls given to her! One doll was given to her at church by her friend's mom, and the next day she received one from her grandmother; both brand new and different from each other. Now, 36 years later, my daughter still has those dolls. Those dolls symbolize how much God cared about her and her sweet little request when she was a child. I consider those dolls a gift from God.
God values our children so greatly that He demonstrated it: “He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me'” (Matthew 18:1-5, New International Version throughout).
When people brought little children to Jesus for him to place His hands on them and pray for them, His disciples rebuked them and sent them away. But Jesus corrected them: "'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there" (Matthew 19:13-14).
He went on to command His disciples: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:10). God wants a relationship with your child, so teach them to pray.
Here are just a few examples of how to teach them:
1. Start with giving them examples in the Bible of how valuable they are to God.
2. Tell them to talk to God just like they do to mommy and daddy.
3. Teach them through example by praying with them.
4. Encourage them to pray for their friends and family.
5. Teach them to thank God for all the things they have.
6. Share with your child the times that God answered your prayers.
7. Teach them that they can talk with God all day long and that He is always there for them.
8. Remind them to always ask God for protection for themselves and their family throughout the day, and for God to protect their minds.
9. Tell them it is okay to ask God for personal blessing, like my daughter did with the Cabbage Patch Kids doll.
10. Teach them to ask for wisdom. Read them the story about Solomon, and how he desired wisdom above any material things, and God blessed him with both.
11. Most of all, teach them how special they are to God and that He wants them to talk to Him.
12. Teach them that sometimes God answers our prayers in ways we do not think or understand, but He always knows what is best for us.
Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
My daughter Michelle is a praying woman to this day! She knows that God answers prayers. Sometimes not as quickly as with her dolls—her prayers for a child weren't answered for eight years. But she prayed with conviction knowing that God knew what was best for her.
So teach your children to pray, because they matter to God!