In these unsteady times, you may find yourself turning to prayer more than you used to. To that end, two Project Connect booklets address this topic. The first is the booklet 35 Character-Building Prayers for My Grandchild, Vol. 1. It was written by best-selling author and educator Dr. Mary Manz Simon. The second booklet, Getting (Re)Started in Prayer, is by Dr. Kari Vo, theological writer for LHM.
35 Character-Building Prayers for My Grandchild covers several topical concerns for grandchildren. Manz Simon’s concise prayers are perfect for reading alone or with one’s grandchildren/children. With prayers on appreciation, confidence, empathy, fairness, honesty, and more, grandparents and parents can use these specific prayers with ease. Each prayer is headed with a biblical text, another Scripture to read to deepen understanding, and a space is provided for writing personal thoughts to remember. Each prayer focuses on a single quality for children to aspire to in their walk with God.
Readers will find these prayers satisfying on many levels—not the least of which is their clear attention to cultivating godly traits in the young ones they love. Here are a few words from the “Assertive” prayer: “Allow my grandchild to reflect the power that comes with wearing spiritual armor. Give (child’s name) the confidence to speak up and the ability to think independently. When peer pressure threatens to shift (name) away from what he/she knows is right, remind him/her that he/she was created in Your likeness. If my grandchild feels intimidated, reach out in fatherly love to keep him/her physically and emotionally safe.”
In Getting (Re)Started in Prayer, readers are encouraged to partake of this wonderful gift God has given each of us. Any time we pray, we have the opportunity to commune with our Maker, and why?—because He wants us to! Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock in our petitions to the Father. Relationships need communication, and that’s what prayer is: talking to God, sharing our heartfelt concerns, joys, hopes, and failures. This booklet has suggestions for getting started, different types of prayer to explore, help for overcoming prayer barriers, answers to questions about prayer, and more.
Vo’s attention to the significance of prayer in a Christian’s life will make this booklet a useful volume. She writes, “In the end, prayer is a beautiful and gracious gift God gives us so that we can be with Him, enjoy Him, and grow in our relationship with Him—even now, here on earth, before we see Him face to face. The Lord is your best teacher when it comes to prayer, so ask Him for help. You’ll be glad you did.”
Both prayer booklets and others on various topics can be found at lhm.org/projectconnect, where you can order booklets, download PDFs, and listen to many of them as an MP3 audio file. You will also find Gospel-rich, illustrated, rhyming kids’ booklets in both English and Spanish.
A second volume of 35 Character-Building Prayers for My Grandchild will be available later in 2025.