Prayer: God Hears It All
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
1 You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. 2 You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. 3 You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. 4 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say,
Psalm 139:1-4
Memory Verse
Psalm 139:4
4 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say,
Teddy loved talking.
He talked to his dog.
He talked to his toys.
He even talked to himself while brushing his teeth!
But when it came to praying, Teddy often got quiet. “What if I forget something?” he asked. “What if I don’t say it right?”
His mom smiled and said, “Teddy, God isn’t looking for perfect words. He just wants to hear your heart.”
That night at dinner, Teddy closed his eyes and prayed, “Thank you for hot dogs and ketchup and for my baby sister, even though she spits up sometimes. Amen.”
Guess what? God loved that prayer. Why? Because Teddy was being honest. He was just talking to God—like a friend.
Did you know the Bible says God knows what you’re going to say before you even say it? That means you don’t have to worry about saying things just right. God already knows what’s in your heart. And he loves when you talk to him.
You can pray about silly stuff, scary stuff, happy stuff, or sad stuff. You can thank God for your grandma’s hugs or ask him to help a sick pet. You can even pray after reading your favorite storybook!
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.” That means you.
Try This!
Pick your favorite storybook and read it with someone. Afterward, pray together about something in the story. For example:
“God, help me be kind like the lion in the book,” or
“Help me feel brave like the girl who tried something new.”
God is part of every part of your life—even storytime!
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for listening to me. I don’t always know what to say, but I’m glad you care about everything in my heart. Help me talk to you like a friend. Amen.Related Resources
Brian Clark
Brian is the director of development at ASJ, a nonprofit that does justice work in Honduras. Before that, he served as the communications manager for Kids Corner's parent ministry, ReFrame Ministries. He enjoys spending time with his family outdoors, running, and reading.