A Book Review from Books At a Glance
by Kristin Stiles
As parents, we model for our children how to pray every time we pray before a meal, during devotions, or if our children attend prayer meeting with us. Often, though, we are not intentional about teaching our children how to pray. Teach Me to Pray is a wonderful resource for showing your children how prayer can and should be an important part of their everyday lives.
Kristen Wetherell has subtitled this book “Praying God’s Word from A to Z.” She has chosen two words beginning with each letter of the alphabet to compile 52 topics that children can pray about. These topics cover emotions (anger, discouragement, nervousness, worry), Christian life (church, confession, missions, scripture, zeal), actions (boldness, friendship, honesty, thankfulness), and pitfalls (gossip, quarreling, quitting, temptation, ungodliness), among other themes. For each word, Wetherell has composed a 10-line rhyming prayer that gives God praise for who He is and lays a petition before the throne. These are well written and include rich doctrine at a child-friendly level.
The facing page contains four more sections that relate to the key word. First, “Read About It” provides a verse that speaks directly to the topic. Second, “Think About It” presents a paragraph which gives a relevant scenario that explains what this term might refer to in the life of a child and how it relates to God and His word. Third, “Learn About It” lists three scripture passages that contain examples or give direct teaching from the Bible. Finally, “Do Something About It” directs the child to put action to what has been learned.
This is such a practical book. I love the range of topics and how appropriate they are for every child. I love the rhyming prayers that are child friendly without being shallow. I also especially love the real-life scenarios and the applications that are included. And I appreciate that all of this is bolstered by scripture.
If you are looking for a way to help your child develop an ongoing, robust prayer life, this is a good way to get started. Once you go through from cover to cover, it will continue to be a valuable reference for when your child is struggling with these topics in day-to-day life.
Kristin Stiles is a home-school mom, a Sunday School teacher, and helps lead the “Young, Reading, & Reformed” children’s ministry at Reformed Baptist Church of Franconia, PA.
Buy the books
TEACH ME TO PRAY: PRAYING GOD'S WORD FROM A TO Z, by Kristen Wetherell