Prayer ~ Matthew 6:5-15

Scripture Reference
Matthew 6:5-15 (NIV)
" 'And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 

'This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed by your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one. 

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins'." 


Matthew 5:44
"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Luke 22:40
"On reaching the place, he said to them, 'Pray that you will not fall into temptation'."


Memory Verse
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
"Be joyful always, pray continually."


Activity
After discussing just a few of the commands about prayer in the Bible (listed above), we're going practice praying.

How It Went
I'd never really worked with Andrew much on praying.  I've also notice that Kiera hasn't been praying when the congregation does at church.  She's even tried several times to talk to me during prayers. 

Today we had the perfect "teachable moment".  Kiera started reading a children's book we have on the Lord's Prayer.  Afterward, she headed to her room to pray.  What a great time for a lesson on prayer!

Kiera and I read the verses together (without Andrew. - He wasn't very focused tonight).  She was very interested in what we read and applying it to her school situations, etc.  With Andrew we began talking about how to pray:  why we encourage them to bow their heads, fold their hands, close their eyes, sit up rather than lay down...  After we talked about those things, Kiera and Andrew both prayed.  Andrew prayed for the first times tonight on his own, "God, thank you people.  Amen." Later he prayed again, "God thank you people...thank you sissy...thank you daddy and (with some urging from Randy)  thank you momma."  :)