Quiet Prayer in the Midst of Children’s Ministry—

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. – Mark 1:35

First Catechism Q. 109

1. What is prayer?
   A. Prayer is praising God, giving thanks for all his blessings and asking him for the things he has promised in the Bible.

Prayer is an essential part of any ministry, but how in the world do I do that with the crazy demands of children’s ministry? How can I go into a closet to pray or “pray without ceasing”?

Honestly, I think praying without ceasing is easier for me, as I just pray as the day goes along. It’s just talking with God in the midst of life. My mind is flooded remembering times where I have been praying in my head while dealing with kids in all kinds of situations—from crisis moments  when a child is hurt to just overwhelmingly sweet moments when a child is grasping a Bible story and you seem to see the Holy Spirit working in them at that very moment. Those prayers can go from help to thank you and everything in between.

But I think the best encouragement to pray without ceasing is knowing that the One to whom you pray is interested in every aspect of your life and the lives of those around you. Our sovereign God loves to hear His children in prayer. It is also important to model for children that we can pray anywhere and about everything.

My answer to the question of praying in a closet is to plan. Set a goal  to have a prayer day. Plan your prayer day away so you can spend time praying to God for your children’s ministry, for your church, for your family, and for those God will call into your church. I think it’s always best to plan for your prayer day to be away from your office or your home but at a location within an hour’s drive of your home—maybe in a retreat spot, a camp location, or a room in a church that’s not your church. Pack snacks, lunch, water, or coffee—whatever you need to make your day pleasant and plan your prayer list.

Bring your Bible, a hymnal, and a church directory for your church or Sunday school class lists. Silence your phone and leave it out of sight. Put these prayer days on your calendar far in advance and mark them as your being out of office.

Once you have planned to pray, you can really start to pray. I tend to sing a hymn or two when I start to focus my mind out of whatever I have left behind at work/home. I still love the ACTS acrostic for praying, and here are some of my favorite things to pray.

Adoration – Psalm 145, 148, Job 38–39

Confession – Psalm 51 and personal confession

Thanksgiving – 1 Thessalonians 1 for church leadership, children’s team, volunteers, staff, and others

Supplication – for the needs of your ministry and for your children and their families—grab your list

Take time with each of these sections to really adore our amazing covenant-keeping God, to confess your wicked sinful heart, to be thankful for where God has placed you, and then to begin your time of supplication. Sing some of your favorite hymns along the way, as there is rich theology in those hymns. Even if you’re not a great singer, the words are wonderful for adoration, confession and pardon, thankfulness, and just pouring out your heart to the Lord.

Now, if a day away for prayer sounds overwhelming or impossible, try an hour away. I think you will find that once you get started, finding time to pray is it’s a lot easier than you think. True confession here: I always wanted to have this prayer day once a quarter, but I think in the 20+ years of children’s ministry, I never quite managed once a quarter but did have a prayer day two to three times a year.

As I finish writing this blog post, I am praying for those who will read it: may you be encouraged in your life of prayer.