21 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING: KIDS’ FOCUS

As adults, it is vital for us to show the kids we interact with the importance of centering our lives on the worship of God. Reading our Bibles, prayer, and fasting are excellent ways to do that and there are simple ways we can invite them to participate. The best way to encourage our kids to do these things is to keep it fun and simple.

HOW DO YOU DO DEVOTIONS WITH KIDS?

Keep it short and focus on one main point. Each story in the Bible has numerous things we can learn from it, but focus on just one thing each day or over the course of several days. Kids need repetition and the more you focus on one thing, the more likely they are to remember and understand the exact concept you want them to learn.

HOW DO I EXPLAIN PRAYER TO A CHILD?

There is a simple analogy you may use: P.R.A.Y. P - praise, R - repent, A - ask, Y - yield. Using those words helps kids remember that we start our prayers by praising God, then we ask for forgiveness. After we’ve done those two things we can then ask God for our needs and the needs of others. Lastly, we end our prayers by yielding ourselves to God’s plans for our lives and what He wants to say to us.

HOW DO I EXPLAIN FASTING TO A CHILD?

An easy way to explain the benefits of fasting to kids is to compare it to cleaning out old toys that might no longer work, or that they may have outgrown, to make room for the things they love or new things. As we clean out our bodies and make time to connect more with God and His Word, we make room to receive new gifts from Him.

WHAT SHOULD KIDS FAST?

We do not recommend that children skip meals or drastically alter their food intake. However, making little changes to their diet may be a great place to start. One option would be fasting from specific items such as sweets, red meats, or fried foods. Another option would be to introduce them to a form of the Daniel Fast which includes legumes, whole grains and nuts. While Biblical fasting deals only with the removal of food and/or water, a final option that can help teach kids the concept is by removing other things from their lives to help them focus on God. These things may include TV, playing video games, or spending time on tablets or phones. One important aspect to removing foods or distractions from our lives is not just to get rid of those things, but to replace them with praying, reading the Bible or serving others in Jesus’ name.

The main point for kids is to teach them to recognize the value behind setting aside special times to disconnect from activities and treats they regularly enjoy to spend time connecting with God.

Also - check out some printable Bible Characters who prayed, fasted, or did both here!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to connect with us at hello@lifewest.church.

Important Note: Fasting requires reasonable precautions. Please consult your healthcare professional before beginning your fasting.