How Do I Encourage My Daughter To Pray?

Teaching our daughters to pray is an important part of our calling as moms.  It is the spiritual work of guiding their hearts to God, and teaching them to depend on Him.  There are no sweeter words they can speak than those offered up to the Lord.  So here is one way to encourage your daughter to pray.

An invitation to talk

One of my fondest memories I have with my youngest daughter, Faith, is a nightly routine of “Roses and Thorns.”  I don’t remember where I learned this tip on prayer, but it works.

It is a simple discussion that starts with two-questions you ask your daughter each night.  “What was your thorn today?  And what was your rose?” The thorn represents the hard, unpleasant thing she may have encountered that day.  The rose represents something beautiful and good that blessed her.

In asking those two questions, you are creating a pattern for you and your daughter to talk about her day while it is fresh on her mind. And you will be amazed at what she shares.

On occasions, I have been sweetly blessed to learn Faith’s rose was spending time with me, other times deeply saddened to hear she sat alone at lunch.  (Warning: your mama’s heart will break for them at times).

Teach her to pray for God’s help

And this is what we want, opportunities to talk and pray with our daughters.  The “thorn” shared allows you, as a mom, to stay close to your daughter’s heart.  You are fostering an environment where she can communicate her hurts to you daily.  I was sometimes surprised about the things I learned at the end of the day, that didn’t come up during our normal conversations.

But with a listening ear and sympathetic heart, it becomes another discipleship moment with your daughter.  One in which we encourage and teach them how to respond to life’s difficulties:  by going to God in prayer.

We show them how to pray for themselves, others, and especially the ones who may have hurt them that day. It’s here where she learns to lean on the Lord. (Psalm 145:18)

Teach her to praise God

And last, when we ask our daughters to share their “rose” we are helping them to cultivate a grateful heart.  We are taking them by the hand and leading them to offer up praise, even on the hardest of days.  (Psalm 34:1)

There were many times when I would sit on my daughter’s bed and watch her think as she searched her mind for a blessing.  It may have taken a few minutes, but she always found one.  Looking back now, I see I was helping my daughter seek out God and His goodness.  I was nurturing her little heart to always thank Him in praise each day.

Faith is now 16-years old and I am grateful for those memories of “Roses and Thorns” with her.  Our daily prayer time looks much different now.  Our relationship is close, and she finds it easy to share and pray about things with me.  But more importantly, she is quick to pray on her own.  And that’s what I want for her always, a heart that turns to God in prayer.  He is the only One who will love her perfectly.

I hope this will be a helpful resource in encouraging your own daughter to pray.  Here are a few tips as you get started.

Helpful Tips

1. Create a nightly routine together.
2. Be consistent.  We show the importance and value of prayer through consistency.
3. Start with the “thorn” first.  You want to end your conversation on a positive note with her “rose.”
4. Remind her always that God hears her prayers, and loves her.