We’d just finished our prayer circle in the large group portion of Sunday school when a six-year-old came in late. Her red hair in braids, she was dressed like a little cowgirl, from her pink cowboy hat to her pointy boots. Planting herself in the doorway, her fisted hands on her hips, she looked me right in the eye and announced, “I have something we need to pray about.”

I dismissed the other children to their small group classes and invited the latecomer to stay behind so we could pray together. Her prayer request? Her cats weren’t getting along and one cat had claws and the other didn’t. It wasn’t fair. “We need to pray they’ll get along so the one with claws doesn’t hurt the other one.”

One of the great privileges of ministering to children is praying with them. Though their requests may sometimes seem unimportant, or even amusing to us, to a child they’re every bit as serious as an adult looking for work. Here are five things I’ve learned about praying with children.

1. Respect their prayer requests. Never laugh or even smile at a prayer request unless the child does first. If it’s important to a child, it’s important to God.

2. Get eye to eye with the child as you listen to his prayer concerns. That Sunday, I sat on a chair as the child stood before me so we’d be the same height. This shows you’re really listening to what they have to say. Remember, you’re a reflection of God to them. The way you listen reflects how God listens.

3. Draw them close when you pray. Hold their hands, or snuggle them in your lap. (If you’re in children’s ministry, check with your organization regarding what is acceptable physical touch.) This wraps them in God’s love as well as your own.

4. Let them pray out loud if they’re comfortable doing so, or if not, pray for them. Never force a child to pray aloud if they don’t want to.

5. Follow up with them later to see how God is working in the situation. Maybe He’s answered the prayer the way they’d hoped. Maybe things have worsened. Or they may still be waiting for an answer. Regardless, remind them God always works things out for their best, even if it’s not what we’d hoped for (Romans 8:28).

Praying with children is a remarkable honor and one that I never take lightly. Do it with reverence and great joy!

What have been your experiences in praying with children? Any other suggestions you can give?