Big question
What is prayer?
Simple answer: Prayer is talking to God.
Key verse: “The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.” — Psalm 6:9 (KJV)
Teacher’s aim
Prayer is God’s gift to His people: we can communicate with Him. Young children can sometimes think that prayer belongs only to adults, pastors or especially important people. This lesson teaches that children can speak to God too.
By the end of the lesson, children should understand:
- Prayer is talking to God.
- We can tell God what we think, feel and need.
- God sees, hears and understands us.
- Children can pray to God.
The Bible story
Passage: 2 Kings 18–19
King Hezekiah loved and trusted God. But a powerful enemy king named Sennacherib brought his great army against Jerusalem. The enemy’s messenger tried to frighten Hezekiah and God’s people. He told them that nobody could rescue them.
Hezekiah received a threatening letter. The problem was much too big for him to solve alone. What could he do?
Hezekiah went to the house of the Lord. He spread the letter before God and prayed. He told God about the danger and asked Him for help.
God heard Hezekiah’s prayer. God sent Isaiah with an answer, protected Jerusalem and rescued His people from the enemy army.
Hezekiah faced a frightening and apparently hopeless situation, but he did not face it alone. He talked to God about his problem.
Teaching truth: Prayer is our communication with God. Although we cannot see God, He sees us. Although we may not hear His voice, He hears and understands us.
Materials
- A Bible
- An envelope and sheet of paper
- Paper and crayons for each child
- Optional toy telephone
Lesson plan
| Section | Time |
|---|---|
| Welcome question | 5 minutes |
| Bible story | 10 minutes |
| Object lesson | 5 minutes |
| Talk and practise | 5–10 minutes |
| Printable activity | 10 minutes |
| Prayer | 5 minutes |
1. Welcome question
Ask the children:
- Who do you talk to when you feel happy?
- Who do you talk to when you feel frightened?
- Who do you ask when you need help?
Explain that today they will learn about Someone they can talk to anywhere and at any time.
Show the children a toy telephone, if available. Ask what it is used for. Explain:
A telephone helps us speak to somebody who is not in the room. Prayer is not a telephone, but when we pray we speak to God even though we cannot see Him.
2. Tell Hezekiah’s story
Before the lesson, place a sheet of paper inside an envelope. Hold up the envelope while telling the story.
- A frightening message: Explain that a powerful army surrounded Jerusalem and its king sent a threatening message.
- A problem too big for Hezekiah: Hezekiah could not defeat this army by himself.
- Hezekiah takes the letter to God: Open the envelope, remove the letter and spread it out beside your Bible.
- Hezekiah prays: He told God about the problem and asked for help.
- God hears and rescues: God answered through Isaiah and protected Jerusalem.
Repeat the question and invite the children to give the answer:
What is prayer? Prayer is talking to God.
3. Object lesson: spread it before God
Give several simple examples of things a young child might want to tell God:
- “I am frightened about going somewhere new.”
- “Thank you for my family.”
- “Please help my friend who is sick.”
- “I am sorry that I was unkind.”
For each example, write or draw a simple symbol on a piece of paper. Let a child place it beside the open Bible, just as Hezekiah spread his letter before God.
Explain that we do not need to write our prayers down or take them to a particular place. This activity reminds us that we can bring every concern to God.
Talk about it
Use questions appropriate for the children in your group:
- Who was in trouble in today’s story?
- What did Hezekiah receive?
- Where did Hezekiah take the letter?
- What did Hezekiah do?
- Did God hear him?
- Can children talk to God?
- What would you like to talk to God about?
Truths about God
- God allows us to communicate with Him.
- God can see us and hear us.
- God understands what we say and how we feel.
- No child is too young or unimportant to pray.
Practise praying together
Explain that a prayer can be very simple. Use four short prompts and let children contribute a word or sentence:
- Hello, God… We remember who we are talking to.
- Thank you for… We name something good God has given us.
- Please help… We tell God about a need.
- Amen. We finish our prayer.
Do not pressure a child to pray aloud. Remind the group that God also hears quiet prayers from the heart.
Printable activity: my prayer page
Give each child a sheet of paper divided into two large boxes.
At the top write:
Prayer is talking to God.
Label the first box Thank you, God, for… and invite children to draw something for which they are thankful.
Label the second box Please help… and invite them to draw a person or situation they want to pray about.
Add Psalm 6:9 at the bottom of the page. Younger children can decorate around the verse while a teacher talks with them about their pictures.
Application
Every child can communicate with God, regardless of age, language, family background or ability. Encourage the children to tell God about one thing each day this week.
Closing prayer
Dear God, thank You that You see us, hear us and understand us. Thank You that children can talk to You. Help us to bring our happy things, sad things and frightening things to You. Amen.
Take-home prompt
Encourage families to ask their child:
What is prayer?
Help the child answer:
Prayer is talking to God.
Invite the family to use the child’s prayer page during the week and add new drawings or prayer needs to it.