Sprinkling Family Prayer Into Family Time

It’s Christmastime and what a wonderful time to start a new family tradition of praying regularly together as a family! Here are some suggestions as to how you can start and what to include in your prayer-time.

            A well-known acronym for helping everyone to remember how to pray is ACTS :

            A is for adoration. Begin your prayers acknowledging that God is holy. Adore and reverence Him for being the Almighty God.

            C is for confession.  Confess your wrongdoings and ask for forgiveness.

            T is for thanksgiving.  Philippians 4:6, The Passion Translation, states that when we pray, we should be “offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude ….”  Have your children think ahead of time of the many blessings they have so that they are ready to thank God for them. 

            Consider the “fill in the blank prayer”.  An example is the following: God is great, God is good, thank you God for _________.

S is for supplication or asking God to supply your needs.  What does each family member need and what does the family unit need.  Make those requests known to God.  Also, you should pray for the needs of others outside the family. Is there a friend or acquaintance who is struggling?  Pray for them.

            In addition, you can add a simple scripture verse for everyone to memorize and include during prayers.  One important verse is Jeremiah 29:12: “Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me. And I will listen to you.” (ICB).

Having your children keep a prayer journal is helpful and instructive.  What is each child praying and standing in faith for?  How has God answered each prayer? 

By following a simple yet profound routine of family prayers, your children will grow in faith and treasure the memories.  What precious gifts those are!

For more information, please visit:

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/pray-with-your-children/

https://www.illustratedministry.com/2017/ways-to-pray-with-kids/

Helping Your Children Get a Good Night’s Sleep

I have written before about the importance of a good night’s sleep for your children. The Mayo Clinic just released an article about this issue and the impact the CoVid 19 pandemic has had on children sleeping well. Here is some important updated information for parents.

The Mayo Clinic stresses to have a sleep-friendly routine for children to follow each night. There should be a consistent time for them to go to sleep as well as to wake up. On the weekends, you can allow a later wake-up time, but no longer than one hour from the normal time. Sleeping too late in the morning will disrupt a child’s internal clock and it becomes harder for the child to go back to the regular schedule during the weekdays.

Also, parents should monitor their children’s activities when they actually are in bed. Children should not be allowed to have electronic devices with them in the bed, when it is time to sleep. The Mayo Clinic recommends turning off these devices at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before bedtime. It is critical that your children see their beds as times to go to sleep, and not times to be awake and busy doing other things.

Additionally, reading to your children and talking and praying with them are loving activities that help them settle down and begin the process of getting ready to go to sleep. Talk with them about subjects that may be troubling them. Usually, this helps children recognize their anxieties and allows them to better relax and sleep. Especially now during the CoVid 19 pandemic, children will have concerns about their safety and future. Help them to better understand what is happening and what steps you are taking to ensure their health and well-being.

Finally, monitor what you do as a family before bedtime. Physical activity during the day helps children sleep better. At dinnertime, lessen the foods and beverages with too much sugar. Energy drinks and other beverages with caffeine should not be allowed after 3 p.m.

It is especially tough for children during these times. Helping them to get a good night’s sleep is paramount for their ability to concentrate and perform well in school.

To read the entire article, visit:

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-healthy-sleep-habits-for-children/