Learning How to Pray from a Child

“Come, Holy Spirit,” I said as I began a short period of daily personal prayer with my small kids. I closed my eyes, enjoying the momentary silence that fell over the room.  

Suddenly, I heard my toddler speak.  “I’m going to talk to God. God, what do you need?”   

That simple, heartfelt prayer gripped my heart. Throughout the rest of the day, I continued thinking about this prayer. I marveled at my child’s beautiful simplicity and open vulnerability with God. Throughout Jesus’s public ministry, He looked upon children with love and reverence and held them up as an example:

“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14) 

The more I learn about children, the more I realize that I need to become childlike in my prayerful conversation with God.  

The Problem of Self-Absorbed Prayer  

As I pondered my child’s prayer that day, I started to wonder how my life would change if I said this prayer. What would happen if I simply ask God what He needs?   

Much of the time, I focus on myself and give God a long list of petitions. Yes, God wants us to bring our petitions to Him (cf. Matt 7:7-11), but sometimes, I grow absorbed in my own desires. It’s easy for my prayer to become a long litany of “God, I need this … God, I want this … God, please help me with this.” Too often, my prayer becomes less about God and more about myself.   

When I do pray about God’s will, there have been many times when I overcomplicate things. I place all sorts of conditions in my prayer. I explain to God that I want to do His will, but I also want His will for my life to meet certain criteria.   

However, if prayer becomes about my long list of desires and my overcomplicated ideas about God’s will, I forget that prayer is relational. It’s the path by which I communicate with God throughout the day. It’s not just something I do to get what I want when I want it. Prayer is the way that I grow more deeply in communion with God. It’s an opportunity to become open, vulnerable, and trusting — like a child.  

Praying Like a Child  

I would love to say that this simple prayer immediately became part of my daily life, that I wholeheartedly embraced simplicity and openness in my prayer with God, and that I immediately began focusing less on myself and more on Him. However, although I was initially inspired to bring this prayer into my life, I quickly let this incident slip into the past.   

However, as the memories of that day flood my mind, I realize that it’s not too late. Here we are at the beginning of a new year—one dedicated to hope. Maybe it’s time to add this prayer, this question, to my daily prayer.

• What would happen if I began offering this simple prayer each day?
• What would happen if I stopped overcomplicating God’s will?
• What would happen if I stopped focusing so intently on myself?
• What would happen if the faithful began praying like a child and simply asked God what He desires from us?

Let's find out during this Jubilee Year of Hope.