Instructing childeren in prayer
By Lianne de Baat (field worker)
"A rapeleng!" All the children in the Bible class fold their hands or put their hands over their eyes. Now listen carefully. They are going to pray. The teacher starts with, "Modimo legodimong - Lord in heaven." Then the children repeat together, "Modimo legodimong." After the teacher says the next sentence, all the children repeat it in unison. Yes, by now they already know what's coming. Because the prayer is no longer unfamiliar to them. And when the teacher says at the end, "Ka leina la Jesu fela - Only for Jesus' sake," some children already softly say, "Amene."
learned at a young age
Children learn many things naturally, but there are also things that they really need to be taught. For example, I expect many parents and teachers will commit to teaching their children to read the Bible at a young age. It's also wonderful to see children learn to pray at a young age. And what a blessing it is when parents try to obey this commandment of the baptismal vow by teaching their children to pray. With all their imperfections…
Counting days
Many children in the townships will likely be told by their mothers to pray, but I fear there is little attention paid to the question, "How should I pray?" During Bible classes, I once asked the children, "What do you pray for?" One of the children gave a beautiful answer, "I pray that I may learn to number my days." A lot of wisdom from Psalm 90.
Praying together
During Bible class, we also pray together. The routine that we developed, was initiated by the children themselves. Without me consciously explaining it, the children in Phumzile, from the very first time, repeated every sentence of my prayer. What a lesson! For me as well. They first listen carefully to what their ‘teacher’ says, and then all they have to do is repeat it.
I'm reminded of a Bible verse that was preached on a few months ago in the Silverton congregation, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).
When God's children don't know how to pray properly, the Holy Spirit wants to pray within them with groanings which cannot be uttered. The pastor mentioned in the sermon that the Holy Spirit dictates it to them, as it were. Yes, just as the children in Phumzile only need to repeat the teacher's prayer, so the Holy Spirit, through grace, teaches His children to listen first and then to repeat what the Holy Spirit teaches them to say.
What an unspeakable blessing when this Holy Spirit wants to teach us to pray! What an undeserved blessing when children in Phumzile receive not only instruction from a teacher, but also prayer instruction from the Holy Spirit Himself! "Lord, teach them and us to pray!"
