Presence of God + Kids = Pray-er Becomes Prayer

The title here is long, and mathematical. Certainly prayer with kids is less peacefull when it feels long AND mathematical, so, what's happening here?

Coming into the Presence of God is an entirely important first step of the Examen Prayer. If the Examen Prayer is a set of houses in a neighborhood, we can think of each house in our neighborhood the way we would consider time when visiting friends. Sometimes, we end up staying a long time at one house or one step.

Remember, the goal is not to end the steps and check a box that something was accomplished! The goal is an interaction with God and your kids. The outcome is a change in the Pray-er, but not necessarily prosperity in circumstances. Whew!

So, how is your first step, stepping into the Presence of God with your kids, working out in your house? Remember, keep the expectation of directed prayer to a reasonable time length, especially in the beginning. God can do a lot with 5 loaves and 2 fish, and He does move infinitely even in 1-3 minutes at a time.

Becoming a Pray-er with kids means more about consistency, than intensity. Have you ever taken a tour of a cave? Do you notice how beautiful the stalagmites grow taller and taller when the mineral enriched water drips continually over a long period of time? Now, would the same effect, the growth of an elongated, delicate stalagmite, occur if you just dumped a large bucket of this same water over that spot? Keep spelunking the deep caverns of holiness within the depth of your heart consistently and enjoy the journey traveling with your kids, as well. These things are caught and not taught.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

Very soon, your consistency will begin to feel like opening the door on a cage in your heart, and, then, you will soon see a very interested pair of eyes or multiple pairs of eyes following close behind!