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*****
He looks at me pensively as he stands up. He knows most everyone in the place, so it’s not too scary.
He looks around, all are on their feet too. Bravery keeps him steady.
He listens, learns, and knows the words now. He can’t read yet, learning by hearing is his way.
He gently raises his hands, the air accepts them, and he closes his eyes.
He is mouthing the words now, no sound. Not yet.
Halleluia!
Sweet tiny sound breezes through my ears. A wee voice with a big heart. I open my own eyes to look.
He is worshiping.
He doesn’t know that boys are too cool for this. He doesn’t know that it’s not manly.
He just knows we do it, we talk about it, and we encourage it.
I imagine God looks down on us the same way. When we worship, when we acknowledge. When we make mention. With pride and love and Spirit bursting forth in glory.
***
We turn off the light, eye mask is in place, blankets are snugged tight. The sky is twinkling goodnight to us, the sound machine gives the waves of the ocean as our bedtime song.
I take hands to pray but am interrupted.
Five year old, the one who has my artist soul, the one who hurts and loves easily, like me. The one who worships.
He stops me.
“I always pray in my head. Today I want to say a word or two.“
“Dear God, I love you.”
I finish his prayer, asking for protection. That he would be called to Jesus more and more, that he would never lose this fervor. That he would remember.
I’m reminded of my very first “I love you” from him, my heart growing two more sizes in just the remembering. I can only imagine God must feel when we tell him those simply beautiful words. When we praise, when we love.
How can you teach your sons to worship and pray?
1. Lead by example! I know everyone has their own way of worshiping, but let your boys see you doing it. Remember, it doesn’t just have to happen on Sundays.
2. Write it down! Help your boys write out a prayer, even if they are still learning to write they can do this one. Once they are talking about it, writing it out, thinking on it, it’s leaving a heart-mark. They can then read that prayer out loud during prayer time.
3. Make it a habit! Get into a routine of prayer and worship with your boys. They will come to expect it and look forward to it — even those more stubborn guys who don’t want to participate at first. Eventually they will see that it’s just how you do things, so don’t give up!
***
By Arianne from To Think Is To Create
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Sweet Arianne, this is wonderful, a perfect guide for how to get our lil guys in the groove of worship. My boys are 10, and I have seen stubbornness give way to habit give way to feeling/experiencing the benefits of a relationship with their heavenly Daddy. They aren’t perfect with this, but they are learning (as is their Mama)! They can and do watch and learn and participate because they WANT to, and it all starts when mom and dad show and tell!
You are one awesome Mama! Have a good day.
Kristen´s last [type] ..Church Is Da Bomb Diggedy
Thank you Kristen! Watching them have an experience is just incredible, isn’t it?
Arianne @ To Think Is To Create´s last [type] ..My Victorious Limp
Ari this is absolutely the song of my heart. We pray over our boys daily, as they sleep. But we also pray with them all day long. When they need help with anything to do with the heart, we pray. I hope we’re instilling in them a worldview that says, “I can’t do this by myself…I need to stop and ask Jesus to help me.”
We worship most often in the car. I have deep thinker that processes everything he hears…and another who just sings his heart out every time. I love their differences.
Brooke McGlothlin´s last [type] ..Influencing the heart
Love this…I have two deep thinkers and one free spirit.
I didn’t write this in the post, but my boys are all on the autism spectrum, so it’s HUGE that they’ve begun to sing and worship. Huge.
Arianne @ To Think Is To Create´s last [type] ..My Victorious Limp
Yes, we lead by example. That is why it is important for them to see us praying and worship daily. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post.
Joy Ellis´s last [type] ..The Views
Wonderful post & reminder to teach our children as they should go… should walk… should talk… should pray!! Prayer is the footing to all this is – loving this site & all I’m gleaming from it!
Although… each time I’ve suggested for them to write their prayers down, or journal thoughts, they rebel. Any thoughts/suggestions for help with this — greatly appreciated!
Hugs, HL
Heather´s last [type] ..SHMILY Prayer Group for 30 Days
Hi Heather – I understand. I would wait for that moment, any moment that you see the need for prayer, when they know they have that need too. Perhaps when something hard happens, or something sad. Talk about how you can pray through it, offer in that moment to help them write out a short and simple prayer of need. I know when adults get desperate for God they are more likely to pray, so maybe it will be a good start.
Arianne @ To Think Is To Create´s last [type] ..My Victorious Limp
My five year old always tells me at prayer time that he prays in his head, too. Lately, instead of rushing through our prayers, we have been taking the time to talk about our prayers and our God. He has been asking the most amazing questions about God, sin, heaven and asking Jesus into his heart. Those quiet prayer times are the only time my little guy sits still enough to really talk too. Just precious.
So precious Marci! My 5 year old asks those questions too — profound questions, some that stretch my own abilities to explain. Which I love, of course.
Arianne @ To Think Is To Create´s last [type] ..My Victorious Limp
I don’t think there is anything sweeter than hearing a child pray. My most precious memory is when my three-year-old was on the couch asleep, sick with the flu, and his two-year-old sister knelt beside him (without my prompting) and prayed for God to make Caleb better. I know God hears all of our prayers, but I have to think there is a certain power in the prayer of a child. Thank you for your post!
Jennifer´s last [type] ..10 Signs the End of the World is Near
Love this, how priceless!
Arianne @ To Think Is To Create´s last [type] ..My Victorious Limp
This was really great post except for one part. Who says it’s not cool for boys to worship? Who says it’s not manly? I think it’s probably one of the most manly things a man can do (or a boy).
S Club Mama´s last [type] ..How can this be My Moose is 3-
I agree!
But other boys, other teens, other men — say those things to each other.
Our flesh wants to protect itself, it does not want to surrender. True, intimate worship is the epitome of surrender, of being vulnerable. And men and boys seem to learn at a young age that being vulnerable is not good, no matter how wrong that may be.
Arianne @ To Think Is To Create´s last [type] ..My Victorious Limp
Thank you for this post – it clarified something I had been struggling with for a while… my need to have quiet time without the boys, and my desire for them to see me having quiet time so they would see that example. I think I can do both, very reasonably – thanks for the insights!!
Thank you Trena, yes you absolutely can!
Arianne @ To Think Is To Create´s last [type] ..My Victorious Limp
Love this part: *He doesn’t know that boys are too cool for this. He doesn’t know that it’s not manly.* I am a childeren’s ministry director and unfortunatley I see this TOOO much with boys!
April Smith´s last [type] ..Poor Baby-
Oh be still my heart! The beauty of manly worship. I love you for planting these seeds early.
Can I just say I LOVE your stuff Arianne!! You rock my socks off with what you write. My oldest LOVES the group Fee and get’s his worship on with them. It’s so precious to me and my hubby. This post of yours just encourages me to continue and do more with my boys in teaching them the importance of worship.
Karen Hammons´s last [type] ..Spiritual Crack
My wife shared this via twitter and I loved it when I read it! I am one of those guys that doesn’t care what others are doing, God is my Savior and I WILL praise Him relentlessly! And I want my boys to be the same way. This sunday our church is combining the kids service with the adult service and I can’t wait to let my boys see what worship is like! I know we need to show them at home as well but unfortunately I’m working during the day, I do however love to listen to my boys pray before dinner and bed time. Thank you for this encouragement!
This post brought tears to my eyes. I am a new mother to a 7 month old son. My greatest prayer every day is that he will one day give his heart and life to the Lord, and for wisdom for my husband and me to help lead him there. Thank you for this encouragement!
Wonderful post! I’m there now, figuring out how to teach my boys to pray. Thank you.
Tracy @ Hall of Fame Moms´s last [type] ..A babysitter or medical binder for your child
My heart swelled and my eyes teared thinking about the first time I heard my son spontaneously sing a worship song along with the radio. It’s just SO important that they learn that they are not too COOL or “manly” to spend time seeking their Savior. I loved this post. Thank you.
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