Each evening while my wife feeds our son for the final time that day, she or I offer a prayer of thanks for that day, blessings for the next, and for any special needs for family and friends.  Children learn to pray from hearing their parents and other adults pray with them.  They learn to communicate with God through their own participation in that communication as lead by others.  But, you might say, we are not all that natural in our prayer lives.  True.  First I want to assure you that prayer is not simply the formal, corporate prayers that we hear on Sunday morning.  Prayer is a heartfelt communication with God.  God is not impressed with flowery words, but with open hearts.  Second, when learning to pray or teaching a child to pray, it can be helpful to make use of sample prayers that give you a feel for what prayer can be.  In this way you can work toward your own prayers.  You might then try you hand at writting your own prayers, before finally gaining comfort with more spontaneous prayers.

For your use in learning to pray and teach you children prayer, might I suggest you make use of Luther’s morning and evening prayers.  From these you get an idea of what might be included in your prayers.  Feel free to up-date the language to help avoid stumbling over words your kids might not comprehend.

LUTHER’S MORNING PRAYER

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You.  For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.  Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.  Amen.

LUTHER’S EVENING PRAYER

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night.  For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.  Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.  Amen.