PRAYER A SOLID FOUNDATION for Life...A solid foundation to God...in the name of Jesus Christ for without communication there never can be a relationship.
All infants communicate through crying, fussing, smiling, body movements, and other nonverbal behaviors. With repeated interactions, their parents, families, and other significant caregivers interpret the meaning of these signals and respond accordingly. Through these early exchanges, infants discover that their behaviors have a powerful effect on their caregivers and develop more efficient ways to communicate - through gestures and words. Look at the key word here...develop?
Lets look at some communication tips for a infant and compare it to communication with God. The words highlighted in white are the words that we feel are important in relationship to both. The last word is very important....imitate behaviors. This is what we are trying to send forth..children are like sponges they absorb everything they come into contact with, so that is why we must teach them about prayer and why it is so important for each of us in making a difference. I find that there issome very important similarities that can be commented on from the tips for infants to Christian prayer.
Communication tips for Infants:
- Speak naturally and close to an infant's ear. This is a natural way to help the infant discriminate speech from the environmental sounds. [ A pure heart, a simple heart, asking God to listen to our heart hear us as we pray speak naturally not like the pharasees but like a child asking a father ]
- Reduce unnecessary noise. Turn off the television or radio and reduce other background sounds if you want the infant to pay attention to what is being said or other spoken information. The signal (speech) must be at least 30-40 dB louder than the background for a hearing infant to be able to attend to it; so background sounds will interfere with the ability to understand what is said. [ heart felt prayers in a genuine way no outside influences distractions]
- Hold the infant on your chest and dance or sway in time to vocalizations to help the infant make a connection between sound and movement. [ Faith as a infant feels the heart and dance so does our God look for our Thanksgiving and praise. So give good praise in all things]
- Imitate the infant's own vocalizations or actions. Infants will imitate behaviors that are within their own repertOíre before they imitate new behaviors. [ Learn by watching adults pray example's we give in the home and church community]
-
Communication tips for Prayer:
-
Here's how to be heard: Pray with faith (Hebrews 11:6). Pray with clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4). Pray genuine heart-felt prayers, rather than vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7). Make sure that you are praying to the God revealed in the Holy Scriptures (Exodus 20:3-6).
As a baby one must 'learn' to talk. Communication to parents. Jesus knew the burdens of every mothers heart . Since He is the mother and father to us all we must teach children to ask God..."Listen to our heart"
But Jesus said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven"
Jesus loved children and knew the burdens of every mother's heart. Jesus accepted their childish sympathy and their open, unaffected love. I believe this is what Jesus was saying in the scripture above "for such is the kingdom of heaven". Surrounded by traditions of the time and hearts molded in such traditions. Jesus often spoke of such. When in fact a childs heart is open, trusting and above all simple. Mark 7
his people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
teaching as doctrines the commandments of
The grateful praise from their pure lips was music in His ears, and refreshed His spirit when oppressed by contact with crafty and hypocritical men. Wherever the Saviour went, the benignity of His countenance, and His gentle, kindly manner won the love and confidence of children. Among the Jews it was customary for children to be brought to some rabbi, that he might lay his hands upon them in blessing; but the Saviour’s disciples thought His work too important to be interrupted in this way. When the mothers came to Him with their little ones, the disciples looked on them with disfavor. They thought these children too young to be benefited by a visit to Jesus, and concluded that He would be displeased at their presence. But it was the disciples with whom He was displeased. The Saviour understood the care and burden of the mothers who were seeking to train their children according to the word of God. He had heard their prayers. He Himself had drawn them into His presence.It is still true that children are the most susceptible to the teachings of the gospel; their hearts are open to divine influences, and strong to retain the lessons received. The little children may be Christians, having an experience in accordance with their years. They need to be educated in spiritual things, and parents should give them every advantage, that they may form characters after the similitude of the character of Christ.
It is our job together as a Christian Community to help each other train our children.
Fathers and mothers should look upon their children as younger members of the Lord’s family, committed to them to educate for heaven. The lessons that we ourselves learn from Christ we should give to our children, as the young minds can receive them, little by little opening to them the beauty of the principles of heaven. Thus the Christian home becomes a school, where the parents serve as underteachers, while Christ Himself is the chief instructor. That is why we believe that together we can make a difference....one child at a time.
What is Prayer? – Talking With God
What is prayer? Just as a baby learns to 'talk' thus is prayer. Talking to God. a direct line with heaven. Prayer is a communication process that allows us to talk to God! He wants us to communicate with Him, like a person-to-person phone call. In todays world everywhere you look, even children have cell phones. It seems to have become a nessesity today. Cell phones and other devices have become a strong necessity to some people in today’s society that they just can't live without one. We have blue tubes, blackberries, and talking computers! These are means of communication that allow two or more people to interact, discuss, and respond to one another. In such a uncertain world it must be a necessity to communicate with God. But children must 'learn' for even the disciples asked Jesus......
The disciples of Christ asked Him..."Teach us to pray"
I once preached a sermon about the Lord's Prayer or Prayer of Jesus. It is funny in a way but sad in another way, this is why we must train our children and they must PRACTICE prayer. The story goes like this......
There was a father that gave his son a scolding because he did'nt know the Lord's Prayer. But Daddy he tried to explain, and after many tears the child said I do know it, the boy hung his chest out proudly and repeated... Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take, With amazement the dad smiled with such pride and said to his son, Well I guess you do know the Lord's prayer.
Prayer must be taught, and we also must teach our children to practice prayer. Just as I practiced to become a National Concert Artist so must we practice prayer. As children and as adults. In our programs we use The 5 finger prayer, F.A.C.T.S, (Faith-Adoration-Confession-Thanksgiving-Supplication) Prayer Balloons, Prayer Cloth, a prayer journal, The Lords prayer in dance, and other activities to guide children into prayer and establish a prayer life.
Praying Together
u·ni·ty n. pl. u·ni·ties 1. The state or quality of being one; singleness. 2. The state or quality of being in accord; harmony.
We teach children in our programs about UNITY. Worship is UNITY. Unity in Prayer is important. [Mathew 18:20] For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”Children Don't know because we don't train them by our example's in worship. Yes Prayer and worship go hand in hand. Praying together at Church in worship and together at home. If we don't show them by example at the dinner table or at home outside in the world that we pray then how will they ever know? To stand in the gap for others, we must open up to our children and young people about prayer. To stand in one accord with each other in UNITY.
Acts 5:12
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
Also I gave a children's sermon on the 5-finger prayer one time at a church and the children would not kneel at the altar with me for prayer. They would not even talk about needs, or requests. Children today are swept away downstairs for children's church. Children learn by example that is a proven thing. We recommend that children stay in the worship service for at least one Sunday each month to see how adults worship, and then they will learn about what prayer is, what the altar rail is for, and listen to the adults speak out about prayer requests. Children need to be taught that prayer requests are just like them talking with each other about anything. After all, we should not FEAR when it come to prayer. In our programs we teach children about Prayer for without communication there can not be a relationship. As children grow in life this communication is important to both their spiritual being and their walk in life with other people.
What is Prayer? - What Does the Bible Say?
Pray for each other. Jesus set an example for us on what to pray. He prayed for His disciples and for every generation to come that would follow Him. His prayer was that God protect and strengthen them as long as they were in this world. Jesus also prayed for those who would come to believe in Him through the Gospel message (John 17)
Pray with faith. “So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Pray with worship and reverence. “Exalt the LORD our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!” (Psalm 99:5). “‘Yes, Lord,’ the man said, ‘I believe!’ And he worshiped Jesus” (John 9:38).
C is for HOME
COMMUNICATION begins at Home. God chose to send His son Jesus Christ into the world in a HOME setting. A humble beginning.
Home. It is said that home is where the heart is. If C represents Home and Home represents Christ, then planting the seed of C into the hearts of children in reference to Christ everytime a child places their thumb on C they will think of Christ. Today it is important that we teach children that 'Church' or community worship is to create an atmosphere of 'Home' where Jesus Christ will come and dwell. HOME is Jesus Christ. What better place to build a solid beginning for children than to start them on the Key on any keyboard to the left of the two black keys. This is Middle C or HOME. We stress the word home A place of safety and Yes Home in our music program is found to the left of the two black keys. [C] C stands for Christ, and Home. No matter where the children go on the keyboard they can be sure that HOME [C] is the beginning of music. The exercises up and down the mountain as they learn the 10 commandments begins on C.
Some other words we stress for the letter C
C stands for Christ C stands for Church C stands for Communion C stands for Communication C stands for Caring C stands for Complete C stands for Confession We try to relate the C in music to words of the Bible and things in life that Children deal with. So as they learn the keyboard they are also learning about other words and their meaning. Yes their is no letter on the keyboard of P for prayer but again C for HOME is for communication and PRAYER is COMMUNICATION>
We teach children about Standing in the gap for other's. In both our childrens programs and The Circle of Life Youth Program we deal with Intercessory Prayer.
Intercessory Prayer - What is it?
Intercessory prayer is prayer for others. An intercessor is one who takes the place of another or pleads another's case. Intercession can be defined as "holy, believing, persevering prayer whereby someone pleads with God on behalf of another or others who desperately need God's intervention." The children of your church can stand in the gap for others if we train them. By allowing a prayer can in your church where prayer requests can be placed for the children and the youth each week you can have the youth prayer over the requests. We use the PRAYER BALLOON program once a month. To learn more click on the button below.
Intercessory Prayer - The Biblical Foundation
The Word of God is the truth. So the Biblical basis for the New Testament believer's ministry of intercessory prayer is our calling as priests unto God. The Word of God declares that we are a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5), a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), and a kingdom of priests (Revelation 1:5). You see you and I are now priests. We have been grafted into Jesus Christ. Before Jesus gave his life for are sins the priest was the Intercessory for the people.
To better understand this role let us look into the background for understanding this calling to priestly intercession is found in the Old Testament example of the Levitical priesthood. The priest's responsibility was to stand before and between. He stood before God to minister to Him with sacrifices and offerings. The priests also stood between a righteous God and sinful man bringing them together at the place of the blood sacrifice.
Hebrews 7:11-19 explains the difference between the Old and New Testament ministries of the priest. The Old Testament Levitical priesthood was passed on from generation to generation through the descendants of the tribe of Levi. "The Melchizedek priesthood" spoken of in this passage, is the "new order" of spiritual priests of whom the Lord Jesus is the High Priest. It is passed on to us through His blood and our spiritual birth as new creatures in Christ.
Intercessory Prayer - Our Model Intercessor
Jesus Christ is our model for intercessory prayer. Jesus stands before God and between Him and sinful man, just as the Old Testament priests did: For there is one God, and one mediator (intercessor) between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us (Romans 8:34). Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).
Jesus brings sinful man and a righteous God together at the place of the blood sacrifice for sin. No longer is the blood of animals necessary as it was in the Old Testament. We can now approach God on the basis of the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross of Calvary for the remission of sins. Because of the blood of Jesus, we can approach God boldly without timidity (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Jesus was an intercessor while He was here on earth. He prayed for those who were sick and possessed by demons. He prayed for His disciples. He even prayed for you and me when He interceded for all those who would believe on Him. Jesus continued His ministry of intercession after His death and resurrection when He returned to Heaven. He now serves as our intercessor in Heaven.