How do you pray?

Question

My 6 year old asked me this today, and ive really no clue how to answer it, i began to tell him its just a way to talk to god, and he asked but how do you do it and what to say.. and then the phone rang.. (saved by the bell) Hes been going to church with his fathers (my ex) family, there christian, and well ive never really had much religion growing up. the only 2 prayers i know is the one his family says before group meals, and the 'our father' which i learned cuz it was writtin on a mirror in my grandmother bedroom when i was little.. other than that ive no clue.. so any advice would be helpful.. paticularly from other christians.. is there a certain way your supposed to begin? i know theres a lot of prayers, are you just supposed to recite certain prayers for certain things?

Thanks everyone, you all have such grat advice.. we talked a little more, i love my son, hes so funny.. we wont sit and talk.. he comes and asks a question.. then goes away to think about my answer and comes back with another one lol.. anyway.. he asked if he needs to pray out loud, or if god can hear his thoughts? i think im ment to tell him he can hear his thoughts right? or will this make him paranoid?

Answer 1

Don't limit him to prayers by memory.

Let him free form. It's easier for kids.

You are so right in saying - just talk to God.

I'm a Catholic. One of the best masses I ever went to was the first mass I took a child too. I don't remember how old she was. She was so little though. She was fascinated by church and the idea that this was God's house and that the priest was God's messenger.

I gave her a little pink plastic rosary that day. I told her to go bead by bead and say anything she wanted. On one bead, thank God for her lunch. On another bead, ask God to take care of her mommy. On another bead, thank God for her home.

When they are that little, they have essentially just come from God. So they have a better way than us of speaking to him. It's the COOLEST!!

Answer 2

Praying should be done in earnest and can be done in privacy. He wants to hear the words of your heart. As a son or daughter. Not poems or recitals. Isaiah 29:13, "... these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me..." And since none get to the Father but through the Son, you should always pray in the name of Jesus. As for a child let 'em pray whatever is in their heart (praise, requests, etc.) by your example and God will hear them.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Answer 3

Prayer is a way of communicating with God. Like a father, God wants a consistence communication with his children, and that is why Paul says, “Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.” (1 thes 5: 17-18) this in a way means that we are to talk to God in our good and in our bad times as Paul, in the book of James says, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (James 5:13-18). Thus, the practice of prayer should be with out ceasing and not only when we find our selves in trouble.
It can be loud, it can be just whispering to our selves, covering our eyes, kneeling down, standing or lifting up hand. The most important thing is talk to him and hears him talk back to you. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray and it is recorded in the book of (Matt 6: 9-15)
Patrick.

Answer 4

I call Him Father, and then I talk to Him like I talk to my closest friend. Except I don't tell my closest friend absolutely everything, like I tell God. Start with that. Then, tell Him to listen. Probably the most important part of prayer. Recitation of prayer can be very artificial. Do you have a relationship with Him, or not? Act like it. We don't get formal with people we know personally.

Answer 5

I teach 6th grade religion and my students ask me this all the time and this is what I tell them.

I ask them to get in groups of two. Which they do. and I let them talk to each other for a couple of mintutes and then they have to go back to their seats.

then I tell them God is just like your friend that you were talking to. When you pray, just imagine god sitting right there with you and tell him everything you would your friend.

the point always seems to sink in with them,

hope it helps!

Answer 6

Its nothing hard. You pray like your talking to a best friend of yours. And you have the choice to bow your head and close your eyes and make it real formal...or you can just sit their and talk to the big guy. And their os no "certain way" to pray. You pray from your heart and thats all that matters.

Answer 7

You know the best advice I could give to a 6 year old is to tell him just to talk to God like he would to mommy, just spending time with Him. I realize the following article may be too deep for a 6 year old. However; this is a common question even among some adults and I believe the following might help shed some light for them.

The difference between where you are now and the next
level of spiritual maturity is prayer. The funny thing
is, this concept is the same no matter where you are
at in your walk with Christ. Embracing that special
moment when you can hear God's voice softly speaking
to your spirit.

I have recently crossed over into a more intimate
relationship with our Lord and Savior than I could
have ever imagined possible. And it came about from a
revelation of how I was praying.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am sometimes
bombarded with prayer requests, lifting up my family,
praying over my needs, even praying over my own hopes
and dreams. But recently I realized something was not
all it should be -- intimate fellowship with Jesus
during prayer. It became more of a routine than
communion.

One morning I woke up and started my day with the
usual prayers for others etc. And I heard that small
still voice say "I would really like to spend some
time with you, these things are in My hands anyway."
At first I was a little confused. Having always been
taught that prayer equals fellowship. Then I realized
it was pretty much a one sided conversation! So I
stopped in the middle prayer, decided nothing I had to
say mattered. None of my requests, desires, hopes
dreams, etc. were really important to me at that
moment. The only thing on my heart was to have Jesus
speak to me and just spend time with Him.

Later, God allowed me to sit down with my guitar in
hand and express this in song "Whisper to Me" it is my
prayer that it may help, encourage, and perhaps
inspire others in their own relationship with our Lord
and Savior.
------------------------------------------------------

Whisper to Me

(Verse 1)
Whisper to me softly,
Your voice I long to hear
I'm not seeking some great miracle
I just need to feel You near
Wrap Your arms around me
In the comfort of Your love
I'm not distressed I make no request
I just hunger for Your touch

(Chorus)
Whisper to me, Whisper to me
Bathe me in Your presence
Right now that's all I need
Whisper to me, Whisper to me
Fill me with Your wisdom,
Your hope Your love Your peace
Whisper to me

(Verse 2)
I'm not asking for a blessing
I'm not casting off my cares
I bind up any hinderance as
I commune with You in prayer
I'm not concerned about my problems,
My desires, hopes and dreams
All I long to do is seek Your face
As we meet on bended knee

(Repeat Chorus)

Songwriter: Gary L. Laymon
ASCAP
Copyright ©2002
All rights reserved

I currently have it available for play and/or download at: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=260206

Should you wish to listen to it. And it's free.

Answer 8

Talking to God for a child is like talking to your parents. Tell God what is on your mind. If you are thankful, thank him. If you need something, tell him. If you have sinned, confess and ask forgiveness. Try to keep it as simple as you can.

Answer 9

The late John Paul II said something to the effect - It doesn't matter how you pray, just pray.

There is no certain way to do it, but you are right - it is talking to God. Give Him thanks for everything in your life.

Start with:

"Hello, God. . ." and go from there.