How Creative Prayer Spaces Help Children Encounter God

"I didn’t know prayer could be so fun!!!’"

That was hollered by a 9-year-old boy as he ran across the front of a prayer space.

I was taken by surprise as 20 minutes prior I had welcomed a group of 30ish children to their first prayer space in school, explained the space was a place for them to learn for themselves what prayer was. A space to be respectful of others as they would all be reading, reflecting and possibly praying too.

Respectful simply meant no running around or shouting over each other. Just give each other space and time.

So, now knowing the context, you can see why I was a little taken aback! But the boy wasn’t being naughty or disrespectful, he was genuinely full of delight, joy and almost relieved!

The beautiful truth is that this story isn't a one-off.

We hear stories like this all the time from students across the world who get chances to experience prayer through prayer spaces in schools.

In that moment, the Holy Spirit struck me with this simple thought,

Wow, I thought, things would look very different very quickly for our nations.

I want to see that!

What Kids Think Prayer Is

So often, if taught about prayer at all, children learn either a simple thank you ‘grace’ at dinnertime or the Lord’s Prayer (which I love) with their eyes closed and legs crossed in an assembly when they are small.

In my years of visiting different schools, this is their primary perspective when asked the question, “what is prayer?” Children and young people will often respond by physically showing what they’ve seen: eyes closed, hands clasped together, legs crossed—or by saying thanks for dinner.

And whilst I do these things too, that’s not what burns in my heart when I think about prayer. Prayer is so much more than that!

What Prayer Really Is

Prayer is talking and listening to and with Jesus.
It’s our word to describe talking with God.
It’s every part of my day from waking to sleeping.

It’s an ongoing conversation with Jesus, about all subjects from the big to the small.
Prayer changes everything. And when you have that revelation, everything changes!

Why Creative Prayer Matters

Creative prayer opens doorways for children and young people to get a chance to encounter this for themselves.

We all know that once we have experienced something for ourselves, we can’t be told it didn’t happen. It did! We experienced it!  But if we just believe something because someone told us, or we were talked into it, we can certainly be talked out of it.

Encounter is the answer.

What Does a Creative Prayer Space Look Like?

Creative prayer spaces—whether in churches or schools, create that opportunity. They give children and young people space to explore prayer for themselves.

Creativity in these spaces encourages us all to be childlike; it is a leveller across age and stage.

I believe that creativity is a highway to encounter the ultimate and original Creator, God, in whose image we ourselves have been created! He designed the heavens and the earth and everything in it—the ultimate playground!

But what does creative prayer look like?

Well, it can be anything from a single prayer activity to a whole room filled with many prayer activities.

It can be about any subject from the world and justice, to friendship, to thank you, sorry and please.

It can be as simple as writing or drawing something you want to say sorry to God for and then after praying, screwing it up, tearing it or even using a hand shredder.

It’s an outward expression for an inner heart cry, Jesus, I am sorry, help me! I give it you.

It can be showing what you are thankful for by moulding with playdough, pompoms, or drawing, again, an outward heart cry of Jesus! Thank you for this!

It can be the simple permission and invitation to come and ‘Be Still and know that I am God’ in a comfy corner.

It might sound so simple and truthfully, it is. I believe that’s rightly so. God in his kindness has tried to make everything as easy as possible for us to connect with him.

What the Bible Says About Prayer

Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

When it comes to children and young people the Bible is very clear,

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Hosting Spaces for Encounter

So, what have I learnt over the years about prayer and children?

We just need to make the space for the children and young people to encounter Him. Say less, create more room and let the Holy Spirit do the work. It’s God’s work to do.

We just need to host the space well and prayerfully. We must open the doors for children and young people to come in and have a peek, explore deeply, on their own terms. The power of choice is invaluable. But creating prayer spaces/stations and prayerful activities to allow this to happen is where encounter happens over and over again.

It will become more normal to you to hear quotes from children that don’t know Jesus saying things like, "I feel like I’ve taken off a heavy coat" or "I feel like it’s filled in the gaps" or children that have been raised in church saying "now I understand prayer, I like it, and I will do it more!"

Then pathways to connecting children, young people and their families with Jesus, the church and discipleship will suddenly take on a whole new meaning.

Find out more about creative prayer here: https://www.24-7prayergb.com/creative-prayer/

Naomi is the Co Lead for Prayer Spaces in Schools GB and part of the 24-7 Prayer staff team. Naomi has worked in children’s ministry for 15 years and is passionate about children growing up knowing who they are, knowing who God is and how they can have a real living relationship with him right now through prayer and encountering Jesus.