The 12 P's of Prayer

 

            Today's Snack: What else, on this day of "p's" . . . but pizza? Make it pepperoni!

 

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Supplies:

Bible

Print out one set of "P's" for each student - see  below

Poster paper and markers

 

 

Prayer is simply talking with God. No, you don't hear His answers . . . but you can see, feel and experience them in your personal life.

 

Regular prayer is at the heart of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It's as important as eating, drinking, breathing and sleeping.

 

The better your prayer life, the better your life tends to go all around. You understand yourself and your challenges better. You understand other people better.

 

Praying at least once a day, and better yet, throughout each day, is a great way to help you stay calm and focused. You can face the future with the confidence of knowing God, despite life's worst storms and toughest circumstances.

 

To get started making prayer an important part of your everyday life, get into the habit of bedtime prayer and mealtime graces. Then you are praying four times a day. It's great practice!

 

It's a good idea to memorize a couple of prayers, such as the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). That's enough for most times when you are a child.

 

But somewhere in those "tween" years between childhood and adulthood, when your own identity is coming forward and you are dealing with things on your own instead of always handing your problems over to your parents and teachers, it's time for the individual to develop a personal prayer life that's just between the individual and God.

 

            Keeping this conversation going for days, weeks, months and years - with more time spent listening than talking -- makes the communication with God richer, deeper and more powerful.

 

When bad things happen or you have big questions for God, it's a lot easier to talk to Him because you know how to do it on a regular, daily basis, than if you only call on Him once in a blue moon, under great stress.

 

Besides, He's a great guy - the greatest - and you really ought to get to know Him. How do you get to know anybody? You talk to them. So to get to know God, you pray. Prayer's the perfect way!

 

            OK, so let's get started. Make a poster of these. Here's a list of "p" words to Post on your wall or Put in your Bible to remind you of all the good things that prayer Provides:

 

            Personal intimacy and deeper relationship with Jesus Christ

            Perspective on God's personality

            Positive faith attitude - knowing you can trust Him

            Purifying process in your heart - recognizing your own sin and, hopefully, preventing it

            Passion for obedience

            Pressures get smaller

            Peace!

            Provision for your needs

Proof that God listens, based on how He comforts you and answers your prayers

            Pathway for your spiritual growth

            Power for your witness to others

            Productivity in your entire life

 

Here are some P's that you can print out, cut out, and use in your poster:

 

P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P

P P P P P P P P P

P P P P P P P P P