Our family has enjoyed this prayer resource each year.  It’s geared toward elementary kids but we were able to even modify this down and use it even when the kids were in preschool/kindergarten.  We work through this 30 day guide in our evening family prayer times and keep a globe or map on hand to look for the focus country in relation to where we live.  The pamphlet is excellent at helping kids understand about other cultures and beliefs alongside the prayer points.  Order now so you’ll have it to start on the official date, July 20th.

Product description and ordering information.
Click on picture to go to www.worldchristian.com link. 

2012 marks the 21st time that Christians around the world will join together to pray for the Muslim world during the 30 days of Ramadan; Ramadan in 2012 will start July 20.  This is the “30 Days” booklet edition for children for 2012. This booklet follows the same daily prayer topics as the edition for adult readers, but it also includes illustrations and some fun activities. The reduced, simpler text is geared toward elementary school-age children. So, consider involving the younger members of your family or church.  This annual worldwide 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World is for Christians to humbly learn about Islam and pray for Muslims during Ramadan (Islam’s important annual month of fasting and religious observance).  Each year a new illustrated prayer guide booklet is published in dozens of languages and locations around the world. While it is primarily produced for use during  Ramadan, many individuals and churches use it also at other times throughout the year.

Think of someone you know who needs prayer.  Who doesn’t?!  Find a topical verse that fits and remember to pray those words for that person for several days at meal time or bedtime.  Help your child write and decorate a card with the verse on it.  Mail it to the person with a note added that you are praying it for him or her.  Consider having your child decorate a second verse picture that you can post on your fridge or put by your child’s bedside to help you remember to pray for the person that week.

I am of the opinion that every close friend or family needs a cheery mylar balloon if he or she is in the hospital.  Flowers are great, but people can be sensitive to certain types.  Flowers can also get expensive if you do this often.  So, my pick for a hospital room is always a single mylar balloon with an encouraging note attached.  I keep the note short and sweet because if I’m not delivering the balloon myself, I’m having to dictate the message to the employee by phone.  It usually goes something like, “Happy Baby Days! or Get Well!   Love, hugs, and prayers!  The Durbins”  Most hospital flower shops will stock mylar balloons and deliver them to the rooms, same day for free.   Balloons are a fun way to let people know you care and inexpensive way to brighten up an impersonal hospital room.

To extend this idea and help your family remember to pray for the recipient of the hospital balloon, blow up a latex balloon (keep a stash for this purpose), write the person’s name on it, and keep it somewhere where in the house where it will be seen frequently.  Encourage your family members to lift up a prayer for the hospital friend every time they catch sight of the balloon.  Though this balloon is not helium, it can be symbolic of lifting up someone in prayer.
Tip – Use a dry erase marker to write on the balloon instead of a permanent marker.  Believe it or not, it will be less likely to smudge off when the balloon starts shrinking!  We learned this fun fact from a balloon artist.

“Pray continually.”   1 Thessalonians 5:17 

Our pastor, Buddy Liles, recently shared what they are teaching their five boys to pray at the end of their prayers each night.  I love the truths packed in these simple statements…

…And, thank You, God, for Jesus,

Who loves me,

and Who died,

in my place,

on the cross,

for my sins,

He got out of the cave,

and He’s alive!

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

They started more simply, but have added more as the boys have grown.
He added, “All of these refinements, adjustments, and repetition of the simple ending of prayers are our intentional efforts to build a rhythm of praying and a reservoir of theology they may not understand fully now but will have as they grow and may draw on some day when they didn’t realize it was there!”

You’ve probably heard the saying that one of the best ways to love your children is to love your spouse.
Praying Scripture is such a great way to enrich our prayer lives.  Here are some ideas for praying for your other half from head to toe.
(And, I’ll let you in on a something!  The soon-to-be released updated version of Parenting with Scripture will have an entire new section devoted to ideas for praying Scripture for your children.)

I thank God, making mention of thee always in my prayers.  (Philemon 1:4)
Lord, I pray for ___________ mind, that he will have the rich experience of knowing Christ with real certainty and clear understanding. (Col. 2:2-3)
That he will take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (Cor. 10:5)
I also pray for __________ eyes, that he may see life from God’s perspective and be on the alert for spiritual danger. (2 Kings 6:17, 1 Cor. 16:13)
I pray for ___________ ears, that he will hear God’s voice giving him wisdom and direction. (Deut. 4:36, Psalm 78:1)
I pray for ___________ nose, that his life will be refreshing to others, and a life-giving perfume. (2 Cor. 2:15)
I pray for ___________ mouth, that he will have great boldness in witnessing for God and that the words of ____________ mouth and the mediation of
____________ heart will be acceptable to God. (Acts 4:29, Ps. 19:24)
I pray for ___________ bones, that he will be healthy like a watered garden. (Isa. 58:11)
I pray for ___________ heart, that he will be filled with God alone and that God will create in him a clean heart filled with pure thoughts and right desires.
(James 4:8) Lord, I pray that he will trust God with all his heart and not lean on his own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
I pray for ___________ hands, that he will pray with holy hands to God, free from sin, anger and resentment. (1 Tim. 2:8)
I pray for ___________ legs, that he will walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor. 5-7)
And I pray for __________ feet, that God will keep him from discouragement and set his feet on a firm path. (Psalm 40:2)

~ Excerpt from Martha Lawley’s Bible Study, “Attending the Bride of Christ”

A fun way to change up family prayer time is to pray through the alphabet. Go around the table, car, or wherever you are, with each person taking the next letter in the alphabet to begin the word (adjectives or phrases count to make it easier).  Each time you pray this way, try focusing on a different theme –
*Thank you, God, for…
*Lord, we praise You because You are…
*Heavenly Father, please help…

Anyone have Christmas cards still floating around the house?  We’ve enjoyed using ours during our family prayer times in the evenings this month.  If your kids are like mine, they tend to get in a rut and pray for the same people and things.  This idea has brought a much needed freshness as we each draw from the pile of cards each night and pray for the people represented by the cards.