Dear Parents,
Do you, yourselves, sometimes find it difficult to pray? Too keep on topic? To remember to do it consistently? During this week [February 15-21] we are talking about prayer struggles and how teens can look at prayer in different ways. Teens often struggle with prayer because they don't know what to say, or find it hard to talk to someone who they can't see, or because they don't like waiting for answers. Sometimes they feel far away from God and wonder if He really is listening to their prayers.
Prayer doesn't need to be complicated. We mistake prayers for speeches, but prayers do not require articulate words or rehearsed enunciation. God wants praying to be simple. God is our friend and desires a relationship with us. He wants to hear the good in our lives, as well as to be there for us when our lives are not so good. Psalm 145:18 says that "God is near to everyone who sincerely calls on Him".
Ask them...
* What are your feelings about prayer?
* What is your favorite way to pray?
Encourage them...
* Help them think of prayer as an ongoing conversation with God that can be picked up any time, anywhere. They can talk to God like they would talk to a good friend. They may be amazed how easy it will become to talk to God about their lives.
* Help your teen to think of new ways to pray; perhaps they can write out their prayers, sing prayers, go for a walk and talk out loud to God, or even read prayers (the book of Psalms is a good resource for reading prayers). Encourage them to find a way to pray that works for THEM.
Challenge them...
* Challenge your teen to start a prayer journal where they can reflect on their day. They can write about thanks for the day, requests for friends and family, prayers about situations in their life and around the world and questions about God, life, or the Bible. If they don't like to journal, a gratitude jar with things they are grateful about can be a great way to start a prayer journey.
* Challenge your teen to find some time to be silent each day. Without radio, or phone or friends, but just to be quiet and think about God. God can talk to us in many ways, but sometimes God's still, small voice speaks the loudest.
Do you, yourselves, sometimes find it difficult to pray? Too keep on topic? To remember to do it consistently? During this week [February 15-21] we are talking about prayer struggles and how teens can look at prayer in different ways. Teens often struggle with prayer because they don't know what to say, or find it hard to talk to someone who they can't see, or because they don't like waiting for answers. Sometimes they feel far away from God and wonder if He really is listening to their prayers.
Prayer doesn't need to be complicated. We mistake prayers for speeches, but prayers do not require articulate words or rehearsed enunciation. God wants praying to be simple. God is our friend and desires a relationship with us. He wants to hear the good in our lives, as well as to be there for us when our lives are not so good. Psalm 145:18 says that "God is near to everyone who sincerely calls on Him".
Ask them...
* What are your feelings about prayer?
* What is your favorite way to pray?
Encourage them...
* Help them think of prayer as an ongoing conversation with God that can be picked up any time, anywhere. They can talk to God like they would talk to a good friend. They may be amazed how easy it will become to talk to God about their lives.
* Help your teen to think of new ways to pray; perhaps they can write out their prayers, sing prayers, go for a walk and talk out loud to God, or even read prayers (the book of Psalms is a good resource for reading prayers). Encourage them to find a way to pray that works for THEM.
Challenge them...
* Challenge your teen to start a prayer journal where they can reflect on their day. They can write about thanks for the day, requests for friends and family, prayers about situations in their life and around the world and questions about God, life, or the Bible. If they don't like to journal, a gratitude jar with things they are grateful about can be a great way to start a prayer journey.
* Challenge your teen to find some time to be silent each day. Without radio, or phone or friends, but just to be quiet and think about God. God can talk to us in many ways, but sometimes God's still, small voice speaks the loudest.
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