As a young adult, I feared praying aloud. I lacked confidence to speak the right words at the appropriate time. Learning to pray God's Word radically changed my prayer life. Incorporating Scriptures into my prayers helped me pray God's will be done.
2 Timothy 3: 16- 17 tells us, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (NKJV). Judson Cornwall, author of Praying the Scriptures: Communicating With God in His Own Words, said, "When we let the Bible become our prayer, we are praying an inspired vocabulary."
Teach children to pray the Bible verses they memorize. This helps them pray God's will using God's words from their heart. Follow these simple steps:
- Model it. Let your children hear you pray these verses out loud. Pray any time and any place. Be mindful of their attention spans. Pray short, one-sentence prayers for very young children. For older children, you can pray several sentences. Pray specifically for them by name, so they know you are talking to God about them.
- Write it. Send your younger relatives cards and letters that include prayers containing Bible verses. For example, "Father God, thank you for Joy. Help her to obey her parents in the Lord, for this is right (Eph. 6:1). Amen."
- Give your young people opportunities to pray out loud. I delighted to hear my six-year-old granddaughter, Joy, pray "Dear Jesus, thank you for this day. This is the day that you have made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." She was able to pray Psalm 118: 24 because that Scripture was in her.
Praying memory verses helps children use and retain Scripture. May the Lord bless your descendants with a desire to store up God's Word in their hearts!
In the comments section, please share Bible verses you've helped your children or students memorize.
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