“Now I lay me down to sleep…” is a common bedtime prayer shared in the evenings in many homes of families with little ones. I can remember saying it as a child before I’d go to sleep at night, though I could never remember if I was supposed to pray for my soul to keep or to take. Eventually, fearing that I was going to get it wrong, I stopped praying this prayer altogether.
After I had children of my own, I wasn’t sure what to pray with them in the evenings. I got tired of giving thanks for the wonderful day and then asking God to give us a good night sleep.
For a few years our bedtime routine didn’t include prayers. I would read to the kids, tuck them in, give them a kiss, and turn out the lights.
My desire to pray with my kids began to grow, but I still didn’t know what to pray with them…
I began to look to my own prayer life and examine the disciplines I practiced. Thanks to growing up in a Christian home, participating in Moms in Prayer, and great books like The Power of a Praying Parent, I developed the habit of praying Scripture.
When I came across a Scripture that addressed a need or concern I had, I wrote it down in my journal or on an index card. Then I inserted my name or the specific details of my situation into that verse and prayed it.
I realized I could do the same with my children, so I created Scripture Prayer Cards for them. I found simple Scriptures about God’s protection (to prevent fear), courage (to make new friends at school), and being kind (to help them share their toys). My kids decorated the cards with stickers and kept them in their rooms. Each night we would pick a different card to pray.
It’s so exciting to help lay a foundation of prayer for my little ones. It allows them to nurture their relationship with their heavenly Father.
Since the start of 2013, I have been sharing on my blog the Scriptures I have been memorizing with my children. Each month we concentrate on a new topic such as anger, words, and courage; each week we memorize a new verse. I have taken those scriptures and created a set of cards for my kids to use for prayer. I made them available to my readers as a Free printable download.
The front of the card says “Read It.” That’s where the Scripture is printed. On the back of the card, it says “Pray It.” Here, the verse is turned into a prayer.
These cards are not just for bedtime anymore. Each of my children has their own set of Scripture Prayer Cards. My two girls, eight and ten, can read by themselves and use these to practice their memory verses. They are also able to use them to pray on their own anytime.
I enjoy seeing my little ones pray with confidence knowing what the Bible says.
Want your own Scripture Prayers Cards? Download the ones I created on Thankfulness HERE. Other topics such as obedience and kindness are also available on my blog.
Update:
These cards are free to download, however, If you prefer the convenience of receiving these cards professionally printed, trimmed, and delivered to your mailbox, you can purchase them in my Etsy shop.
In addition, I am offering new cards, in the form of a monthly subscription, as a printed or digital version. The first set ships in August 2015.
Related Resources:
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
Praying God's Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds by Beth Moore
Prayers That Avail Much by Germaine Copeland
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
With a background as an interior designer Kimberly Amici has is unique in her ability to be both creative and practical; now a stay-at-home mom she still enjoys exercising her creative muscles. After God, her very active family is her top priority. Kimberly seeks to live a life that is spirit led with her husband Carl and their three young children in the NYC suburbs.
You can follow Kimberly in her journey to discovering the Sweet Spot of God’s success for her everyday life on her blog at Living in the Sweet Spot. Click here for her full bio.