Bedtime routines with little ones can be exhausting! There is bath time, finding the “perfect” pajamas, brushing teeth, cleaning up toothpaste smeared on the sink, kids arguing over which book to read (which always leads to reading more books than planned), tucking them in, and finally, you’re ready to turn off the lights! It’s a busy, tiring, and at times frustrating routine, and it has also become one of my favorite routines of the day. In these chaotic moments, God has provided a window of opportunity for us to connect to the hearts of our children and to pray with them…right in the middle of this busy routine! Since my oldest was born, every night after I tuck my kids in, I pray a simple prayer over them. I have prayed the same prayer now for seven years over each of my children. It’s the most important part of our bedtime routine. It’s rarely ever missed, and my kids now make sure of that. Deuteronomy 6 gives instruction for parents to impress truth upon the lives of your children at home, as you go, and when you lie down and get up. We must seize these moments as opportunities to model to the next generation what it means to follow Jesus Christ. ‘Seize the moment’ means you need to grasp hold of it’; no matter how tired, frustrated, annoyed, etc. you may be…seize these bedtime moments to impress God’s truth and pray with your children. They’ll love it and keep you going. Couple suggestions to pray with your kids:

Pray for…

• Peace

• Forgiveness

• Patience

• To know God intimately

•Family members, friends, and neighbors.

Your bed-time prayer does not have to be long or flowery; just allow it to be genuine and intentional. Just for fun, here is the prayer I do with my kids…

“I pray the Lord opens your eyes, so you can see Him. That He opens your ears, so you can hear him. He touches your mind, so you can know Him. He touches your mouth, so you can speak of Him. He opens your heart, so that you may love Him. He blesses your hands, so that you may do His work!”

I have said this simple prayer at bedtime over 2,500 times since becoming a father. I trust the Lord has not only heard them but will continue working in my children’s lives in response to them. There is tremendous power in prayer! So, before you turn off the lights, make sure to seize the moment and bless your children!