Prayer Bowl

Over the years, as our kids continue to grow and change, we've had to adapt the ways in which we "do devotions" as a family. After dinner, we try to spend a few minutes as a family in prayer or reading the Bible. While not extremely consistent (maybe 60% of weeknights), we do value this time as a family and it has gotten easier as our kids have gotten older. Well, usually. Just recently, we had a lovely devotions where 2 of our 3 kids were sent to their rooms during this supposedly sacred time. And Charlotte really could use a bungee cord around her lap and chair to keep her seated:) We've read Bible stories, gathered around the piano to sing, listened to "Keys for Kids" (not my favorite) and used a fantastic resource (my personal favorite) written by a family friend called "Teach Us to Pray." We continue to do a hodgepodge of these methods, letting our kids take a turn leading and choosing how to lead once each week.

Last year, we added a new idea into the devotional rotation we've named the "Prayer Bowl." We have a small glass bowl that has slowly been filled with random objects--from pictures and shells to coins and keys. Each object is a reminder to pray for a specific person or thing that has been on our hearts or minds; the objects are typically chosen by our kids. Anyone can suggest that we add a need to the bowl and we decide when things no longer should be in the bowl.

On nights when we use the bowl, we lay out all of the items and we pick up the objects that represent who/what we will be praying for. Once we've chosen our objects, we go around the table, and pray aloud for each need as we hold the object until all have been prayed for. I've enjoyed seeing our kids, especially Charlotte, develop her "prayer language" and I like to see who the kids all enjoy praying for. For some reason, Uncle Miki and the guards are the most popular amongst the kids right now.  Right now, our bowl contains objects for:

Tesoros de Dios

The Future

The environment

Grandpa Bob

Grandpa Steve

Hector

Uncle Rich

Frehiwot

Uncle Ben

The guards

Grandma Norma

Great Grandma Ruth

Sofia

Uncle Miki

Mr. Siepel

Walter

Angel

Uthman

Carla

The Prayer Bowl is a flexible, tangible tool that helps our family remember to lift up people and situations in prayer that we might otherwise forget. It allows all of us to be involved in prayer, both for our children and us adults. We've prayed for sick people that have died, and prayed for others that have since gotten well. We've seen God at work and we've wondered where He is. It is good for all of us to be reminded of the gift of prayer--not talking to a "genie" who will grant our wishes but staying in relationship with a loving father who wants to hear the joys and cries of our collective hearts. Prayer reminds us that He is God and we are not.

It might a be a tool that you can use for your family devotions, too, which is why we've shared it here on this blog. I wish we had done this when our kids were even younger. If you have other ideas--things that have worked for your family devotions, we'd love to hear your ideas, too.