Luke11:1 "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples”
DISCIPLESHIP TOOLS- PRAYER
My mum had a great influence on me when i was growing up. Till now, she's still interested in my well being and my siblings. She instructed us to wake up early to pray personally before the general prayer time. She would come waking us up one after the other to pray but we were always like the disciples who would sleep off after being left alone. On some occasion, she would engage me personally in prayer. All of these looked like trouble and fanaticism those years but today, it has become a foundation upon which i built my life and ministry.
In discipleship, prayer is a tool. We must consciously pray for the next generation as we teach them God's word. Where you cannot get to, your prayer can get there but praying for them is not enough. You must also teach them how to pray and they must see you praying. When children see you praying regularly, they'll register it in their heart that it is a crucial exercise.
The disciples of Jesus asked him to teach them how to pray. We can disciple the next generation to pray. One of the failures of the previous generation is that they didn't teach the new generation the importance of prayer. If at all they did, it was in theory not in practice. Apostle Ayo Babalola of blessed memory didn't just pray but he taught his immediate follower how to pray and he showed them how it is done. Today, prayer is the strength of the church he left behind. The generation that is not taught how to pray would end up becoming a prey in the hand of the enemy.
Do your best to teach your children how to pray and let them see you praying. Your prayer life should not be hidden to them.