"In order for children to grow their own faith, they have to find their own way of having a conversation with God. This will look different for each one of us." Rachel Turner
‘Chat and catch’ is simply a way to describe prayer. Just like we chat with our friends, and catch their answer, whether they tell you in words, a gesture or just their body language, so we can chat and catch with God. ‘Chatting’ (conversational prayer) encourages children to use informal language, as well as non-verbal forms, to communicate with God. ‘Catching’ (listening to God through prayer) is simply supporting children to recognise and respond to God’s voice – however he chooses to speak – meaning that they can easily, naturally and directly connect with God in a two-way, ongoing conversation about anything, whenever and wherever they are. Using the term 'catch', when thinking about listening to God, helps children understand that listening is active and they need to be ready to ‘catch’ whatever God is going to send them. The promises in the Bible tell us that God will answer when we speak to him and we will recognise his voice. We have to learn how to do this and make it part of our daily practice so we become more in tune with God’s voice. "Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvellous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own." "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." How do we teach children to 'catch' from God?Firstly, reflect on our role as parents/ carers / church community through the Old Testament story of when God spoke to Samuel. Watch what Eli does and doesn’t do - read 1 Samuel 3:1-10. I wonder what you might learn from this story about helping your children catch from God? Eli listened to Samuel and pointed out that the voice he was hearing was God. He coached Samuel so he knew what to say to God when he spoke again. Eli left Samuel alone to meet with God. Eli trusted God enough to speak to Samuel without him. I wonder if we act like Eli? Or do act like a mediator or referee between God and our children? A prayer for your familyLoving God, Listening God, Faithful God, Amen Our whole bodies were designed by a creative God to catch from him. We can train ourselves to recognise how God speaks to us in many different ways. Ask, ‘How did you catch from God today?’ I wonder how we can share these different ways with our children? How might knowing God speaks to us in different ways support your children? Sometimes our skin just senses that God is in the room or really close to us. We might also feel his physical touch as we chat to him.
God can drop pictures, Bible texts or visions into our minds. It might be as we read something or hear someone else speak. God speaks into our mind to direct our thoughts, to bring wisdom, joy or drive out negativity. "God what do you think?" "God what should I do?" God speaks and reveal himself through our sleep in dreams. “Did you have any dreams that you think came from God?”
Where we become totally overwhelmed with emotion as we pray. We may be filled with God’s love, peace, joy or get stirred by God’s heart for justice.
Some people actually see God with their eyes or hear God with their ears. As adults we have to show and model to our children that they can catch in different ways as they pray. We also have to listen carefully as our children speak to us and encourage them when they feel God is not speaking. It is about helping find windows into their lives, so they can spot and discover God in action. “That’s great, go back and chat more to God about that.” “Give it some more time, ask God your question again.” "How did you catch from God today?"
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