Prayer in the Gaps

Have you prayed with a child? It’s a sweet and humbling experience. I get to do it nightly with my children.

When my son was a toddler, I prayed for him. As he grew I prayed with him. I wanted to teach him to pray, but I was terrible at praying out loud. I awkwardly stumbled over thanksgivings and petitions. We prayed the standard ones I wanted him to learn. But more than anything, I wanted him to know how to speak to the Lord intimately, in a way I was still learning to do.

My son and I would sit in the darkness of his room, piecing together thanksgivings and requests, creating a litany all our own of namesake saints.

So it is, when I am praying to the Father. I ask the Son to teach me to pray. I ask Him to bolster my prayer where it is lacking and to fill in the gaps with grace.

While my day is littered with little prayers of thanksgiving and petitions, I also know the profound grace that is poured out when we set aside time to speak to and listen to God, just as Jesus did in today’s Gospel. (See Luke 6:12.)

I had never created the habit of rising early to pray, or staying up late to do it. So a year ago, in total frustration, I said to God, “I want to talk to you, please help me find the time” and He did.

Here and there, pockets of peaceful time popped up, and I would call on the Holy Spirit to guide me, do a little spiritual reading, and sit in the Lord’s presence.

So sister, if you are struggling in prayer, lean on the Lord and ask Him to fill in the gaps. He will meet you there.

I ask the Son to teach me to pray. // @jacquiskempClick to tweet

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Jacqueline Skemp is a daughter, sister, wife, and mother who endures living in Minnesota after leaving California for her one true love. She is a contributing author to our children's devotional prayer book, Rise Up. You can find out more about her here.