Play 'n' Pray - the skies the limit!

24-7 Prayer: Day Two



Our Church is currently spending the week in prayer, 24 hours a day for 7 days. So far everyone I have spoken to, who has spent time in the prayer room says "The time flies by", "An hour isn't long enough" "I'm signing up for another hour" or something along similar lines. The testimonies so far have been extreemly encouraging as people have sought God and found him. People of all ages have utilised the prayer space ... there is no limit as to who can come before God and experience His presence.

I've spent some time in the prayer room with Zac, Evy and Meila, (who I was looking after) and was encouraged to play and pray. Prayer isn't boring, it's not mundane (unless you make it that way), it can be exciting, fun and joyous. In the prayer tent is a dedicated space to encourage our kids to pray. 





Strait away Zac was drawn to the big beach ball which had sentence starters to help kids start their prayers. "Thank you for ..."

"I love you because..."

"Help me too ..."

"Help others too..."

"I'm sorry for..."

We had 'such fun', throwing the ball to each other ... praying and playing together. It was delightful, and I'm certain that God took great delight in his children enjoying their time with him.

We spent time playing with play dough, painting and sharing in communion together. As the kids painted their hands and put their prints on a sheet canvas, we talked about how God creates us all differently and knows everything about us. We thanked God for making us special and unique.

The simplicity of a childs prayer is inspiring. No flash words, no beating around the bush, just straight up honest. They pray for anything and everything, and nothing is impossible. Their prayers are bold, with a faith that says "the sky is the limit" ... actually, with a faith that says "not even the sky is the limit."

So much hope, so much faith, so much truth, so much love!

No wonder Jesus told us to come to him like little children.

"The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them." Mark 10:13-16 (MSG)

 

Simple.

 

Come to Jesus. Enter His embrace with the simplicity of a child, don't worry about using big flashy words, or trying to impress him (Matthew 6:5-18). Come, just as you are, honestly, truthfully, with hope, faith and in love. He delights when his children come to him in prayer. He longs to gather you in His arms and bless you.

 

Encourage prayer in the lives of our children. They get it. They pray without rules and regulations, in the beauty of it's simplicity. May we not complicate their prayer lifes with our own expectations and requirements of prayer, but encourage their honesty and freedom as they enter the embrace of Jesus.

 

SamMe