These creative prayers for the kingdom of God make perfect prayer stations for young and old alike. These interactive prayers offer a great opportunity to engage with some of Jesus’ parables about the kingdom of God, specifically the parable of the hidden treasure and the parable of the sprouting seed (a.k.a. the parable of the sower).
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The Kingdom of God is Like a Treasure Chest
This creative prayer practice encourages people to think about the treasures in their lives and what treasures they hope to find in heaven.
Materials needed:
- prayer station instructions
- paper for writing on (small strips of yellow construction paper works beautifully)
- pens or markers
- a toy treasure chest or make your own treasure chest out of paper or cardstock (search for printable treasure chests on Google)
Prayer station instructions:
The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, and he concealed it. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)
Take a piece of paper and write down what you most hope to find in heaven. Fold or roll your paper and put it into the treasure box.
The Kingdom of God is Like a Sprouting Seed
This makes a beautiful prayer station especially in the spring and summer months. Encourage people to write down what they would like God to grow in their lives on seed paper and they can plant their prayers.
Provide soil and biodegradable pots to plants prayers at the prayer station, or encourage participants to take their seed prayers home and plant them, or plant them on site if you have a garden or place that could use some flowers. (Modify the instructions below if you are not providing pots and soil at the prayer station.)
When we wrote our seed paper prayers for the kingdom of God, we had the kids write what they wanted God’s help with: goals or things they were trying to achieve, or what they wanted God to grow in them (patience, bravery, etc.). We planted them right away in the church garden, and used a little garden stake marked “prayers”. We did this with kids from the church and the community. It was adorable.
Materials needed:
- prayer station instructions
- seed paper (or pre-cut seed paper in cute heart shapes for easier planting)
- pens or markers
- optional: soil and biodegradable pots
Prayer station instructions:
And Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of God is like a man scattering seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows —he knows not how. The earth, by itself, produces first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once the man puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.’ (Mark 4:26-29).
When we scatter seeds in our lives and the lives of others, some will sprout and grow. Our job is to scatter seed and then tend to the things that God grows in our lives.
Take a piece of seed paper and write down something that you hope that God will grow in your life. What do you need more of? What are you trying to build or accomplish?
Example: God please give me more _______ (patience, kindness, etc.)
God, please help ____________ (a project, a goal, a dream, etc.)
Put your seed paper in a pot with lots of soil underneath it and a little bit on top of it. Take it home and keep it well watered until something sprouts. Plant it inside in a pot or outside.
Ask God to grow good things in your life. Ask him also to help you to surrender the things that you wish would grow but do not sprout.
The Kingdom of God is Both Now and Not Yet
This is a great prayer station to get people thinking about prayers for the world and how we can prayer for God’s kingdom to come here and now. This prayer station works marvelously when paired with the Lord’s prayer, focusing on our desire for God’s kingdom to come on earth.
Materials needed:
- prayer station instructions
- large piece of paper for writing prayers with the words “Your kingdom come, on earth…” written large across the top
- pens, markers, crayons, etc.
- a globe or a map (modify the instructions below if you use a map)
Prayer station instructions:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth, here and now, like it is in heaven. We recognize that one day God will restore all things and make everything new. But right now we can have a glimpse of that kingdom.
Take a look at the globe. Find a place in the world that you want to pray for. Write or draw a picture of your prayer on the paper provided.
