Creating a prayer journal for kids is a wonderful craft that combines creativity with spirituality. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make one using simple materials:
Materials Needed:
- Regular paper (for the journal pages, at least 10-20 per child)
- Craft paper (for the cover, different color options)
- Markers or crayons (for decorating)
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- Yarn (to bind the journal)
- Optional, glue, stickers, glitter or anything else wanted to decorate
Steps:
1. Prepare the Journal Pages
- Step 1: Decide on the size of your journal. A standard size could be half of an A4 sheet, but you can adjust based on preference.
- Step 2: Fold several sheets of regular paper in half to match your desired size. These will be your journal pages.
- Step 3: Use scissors to trim any edges if needed, so all pages are uniform.
2. Create and Decorate the Cover
- Step 1: Cut a piece of craft paper slightly larger than your folded pages. This will be your cover.
- Step 2: Fold the craft paper in half to match the size of your pages, creating the journal cover.
- Step 3: Encourage the kids to decorate the cover using markers. They can draw, write their names, or create designs that reflect their personality or spirituality.
3. Assemble the Journal
- Step 1: Place the folded regular pages inside the folded craft paper cover.
- Step 2: Carefully align all the pages and the cover, making sure the edges are neat and even.
- Step 3: Use the hole punch to make 2-3 holes along the fold line, ensuring they go through all the pages and the cover.
4. Bind the Journal
- Step 1: Cut a piece of yarn long enough to thread through the holes and tie securely.
- Step 2: Thread the yarn through the holes from the outside to the inside, then back out, leaving some slack on the ends.
- Step 3: Tie the ends of the yarn in a bow or knot on the outside of the spine, securing the pages together. Trim any excess yarn.
5. Personalize and Use
- Step 1: Invite kids to personalize the first page of their journal with their name, the date, or a special message.
- Step 2: Encourage them to use their journal to write prayers, thoughts, or draw pictures that reflect their feelings or spiritual journey.
Tips:
- For younger children, pre-cutting the paper and assisting with the hole punch may be necessary.
- You can add additional decorations like stickers, glitter, or washi tape to make the journals even more personal.
- Consider making this craft as part of a larger discussion about prayer, mindfulness, or spirituality to deepen the experience.
This craft not only results in a personalized item for reflection but also provides a creative outlet and a tangible way to explore faith and feelings.
Children Prayer Ideas
Here are simplified and age-appropriate examples from the Bible of what children aged 7-14 are encouraged to pray for, keeping the concepts easy to understand:
1. Asking for Help
- When you need help with something hard, you can pray just like Nehemiah did when he needed help rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4-11).
2. Saying Thank You
- Just like Jesus thanked God for His food, you can say thank you for your meals and all the good things in your life (John 6:11).
3. Asking for Courage
- If you’re scared or facing something big, you can ask God for courage. David prayed for courage before he fought Goliath (1 Samuel 17).
4. Praying for Friends and Family
- The Bible tells us to pray for others, including our friends, family, and even people we might have trouble with (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
5. Asking for Wisdom
- If you’re not sure what the right thing to do is, you can ask God for wisdom, just like Solomon did (1 Kings 3:9).
6. Praying for Healing
- If you or someone you know is sick, you can pray for healing like Hezekiah did when he was very ill (2 Kings 20:1-5).
7. Asking for Peace
- When you’re worried or your mind is busy, you can ask God for peace in your heart, just like Jesus said we could (John 14:27).
8. Praying for Strength to Do What’s Right
- If you’re tempted to do something you know is wrong, you can pray for strength to choose what’s right, similar to how Jesus taught us to pray (Matthew 6:13).
9. Thanking God for Nature
- You can express gratitude for the beautiful world around us, the animals, the plants, and the sky, much like David did in the Psalms (Psalm 8).
10. Praying for Guidance
- When you’re not sure which way to go or what decision to make, you can ask God to guide you, just like Moses did when he was leading the Israelites (Exodus 33:13).
11. For Patience
- Pray for patience in waiting for something you really want or while dealing with a difficult situation, remembering how Abraham waited patiently for God’s promises (Hebrews 6:15).
12. For Friends
- Ask God to help you make good friends and be a good friend to others, inspired by the friendship between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-4).
13. For School and Studies
- Pray for understanding and success in your studies, similar to how Daniel prayed for wisdom and understanding (Daniel 1:17).
14. For Bravery
- Ask God to help you be brave when you’re scared, thinking about how Joshua was encouraged to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9).
15. For Forgiveness
- Pray for the ability to forgive others who might have hurt you, just as Jesus taught us to forgive (Matthew 6:14-15).
16. For Helping Others
- Pray for opportunities to help and serve others, reflecting on how Jesus served and helped those around Him (John 13:14-15).
17. For Joy
- Ask God to fill your heart with joy, even when things aren’t going your way, much like Paul and Silas sang praises while in prison (Acts 16:25).
18. For Your Family’s Needs
- Pray for your family’s needs, whether it’s for health, happiness, or provision, remembering how God provides for us (Philippians 4:19).
19. For Safety
- Pray for safety during your daily activities and travels, inspired by Psalm 91, where it talks about God being our protector.
These ideas are tailored for children, encouraging them to engage with prayer in a way that relates to their everyday experiences and challenges.
Our Adventist Life is a dedicated online evangelist and mother of two, deeply rooted in her Seventh-day Adventist faith. With over 15 years of experience in creating and optimizing digital content, she brings a unique blend of professional expertise and spiritual insight to her work. Her passion lies in exploring Biblical truths and their practical applications in daily living, self-care, and family nurturing. Through her writing, she aims to inspire and guide her readers toward a more fulfilling Christian lifestyle, drawing from her own experiences as a parent and a follower of Christ. Her thoughtful and engaging content reflects her commitment to sharing the love and wisdom found in the Scriptures with a modern audience living in the end times.