How Prayable Moments Strengthen Family Faith -

Yesterday we talked about ignoring the news headlines and focusing on Truth instead. I mentioned how keeping Christ in focus is a lifestyle, not a Sunday morning activity. Lastly, I mentioned teaching children through prayable moments.

What are prayable moments?

I'm sure you have heard the term, teachable moments. Those times unplanned times when you can use a recent action, comment or event as a learning tool. Well, prayable moments aren't much different. Prayable moments are times when you stop and pray for the situation at hand. They are moments to weave into the everyday fabric of your life.

Prayer is not just a bedtime routine. Prayer is a conversation with God and a channel by which our faith is strengthened and seeds are planted. When we look for prayable moments in our day we'll soon find there is much, good and bad to pray about. Prayer is a part of our faith and therefore, should be a part of our life. Everyday.

Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer;in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Finding Prayable Moments

I have made a commitment to recognize prayable moments with our son and act on them. Here are a few common things we pray for:

Injured sports players (Yes, on TV)
Wreckless (and sometimes mean) drivers
Ambulances and police when we see them en route
The injured waiting for the ambulance or police
Missing keys (sea horses, favorite shoes and remote controls)
Flood/fire/tornado/hurricane victims
Bad attitudes/crumby moods
Near misses (almost got hit, almost broke something, etc)

Pointing out prayable moments (and acting on them) not only increases our faith but it also normalizes prayer for our children. When it's normal to pray for a hurt or a need it is easy to take Jesus to others.

I want my son to know the power of prayer is real from lost keys to the last breath – even if that breath is taken at gunpoint. As I mentioned yesterday, we do not know what the world will look like and things are changing rather quickly. The more he can experience closeness with the Father and see the comfort and power there is in Jesus the better equipped he will be to handle whatever the world becomes.

Prayer in Action

Why is it so important to actually pray and not just talk about it?

Family discussion about world events or even bad attitudes is not wrong, in fact, it helps foster closeness and a strong family connections and is a great way to problem solve. But far too often we say we will pray and then never do. So praying in the moment is crucial. We can talk about change and we can talk about what should be done or we can pray about it. Maybe the solution is right in front of us. Maybe God's answer is closer than we think.

If we are raising soldiers in God's army we must teach them how to effectively use their weapons, and prayer is the greatest weapon they have. We pray in Jesus' name and there is none more powerful than His! When we normalize prayer in our lives it helps us use prayer in the lives of others.

I took our son to Wal-Mart to do a bit of Christmas shopping one Sunday after church. On the way into the store, he noticed a man wearing a boot brace on his leg. He asked me what it was for and proceed to say, “Mom, are we going to go pray for him?” It caught me off guard. My 5-year-old recognized a prayer need before I even had time to process it.

Once we got into the store I lost the man and when I did see him again Wyatt was sitting on the lap of a very weary looking Santa-wannabe. After that, our man with the boot was gone. Wyatt didn't mention it again until we were leaving. I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw him, head down, hands folded. I gave him a moment then asked what he was doing, “Praying for the guy with the hurt foot,” he said.

I don't tell you that to brag. I tell you to encourage you that even young children can see a need and pray. This is why we must teach prayable moments. The next generation needs to be equipped to reach a lost and dying world. One way they do that is a faith lived out through prayer.

I challenge you to find prayable moments in your everyday life. Watch for them, ask God to highlight them for you and if you're scared, cross the chicken line and pray anyway!