It is so important to model the principles of staying in Gods word, prayer, and fasting to our kids and it’s actually quite simple to introduce different ways they can 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. Kids need repetition and the more you can focus on one thing, the more likely they are to remember exactly what you want them to learn. Every story in scripture has tons of things we can learn from it, but focus on just one thing each night or over the course of several nights. This will help make sure your child has an understanding of a particular concept.
HOW DO I TEACH MY KIDS TO PRAY?
One concept to use the analogy P.R.A.Y. P – praise, R – repent, A – ask, Y – yield. Using those simple words helps kids remember we start our prayers with praise, then we ask for forgiveness. Once we have covered those two things, we can ask God for our needs and the needs of others. Finally we end 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 prayer and fasting to kids is to compare it to cleaning out old toys that might no longer work, or that they might have outgrown, to make room for new ones. As we clean out our bodies and make time to connect closer to 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 reduce their food intake, but a modification of their diet might prove to be an easy place to start. For example, fasting from specific items such as sweets, red meats, fried foods or even introducing a form of the Daniel fast which includes legumes, nuts and whole grains is a great way for children to participate in a safe and healthy way.
Another great way to fast is by reducing some of the time and energy spent watching TV, playing video games, using the computer or phone, and instead choosing to spend time praying, reading their Bible or serving others.
The main thing is for them to recognize the value behind setting aside special times to disconnect from some of the extra-curricular activities and treats they enjoy on a regular basis and learn how to connect to God in a closer way.
Download a fasting calendar by clicking the calendar below