Our family made a prayer box this week and included thank you prayers for many things. For our life giving jobs, for our growing family, for our home, and our health.

This project is a fun way to create something beautiful that serves as a catalyst for connecting with God.  It helps us to recognize God’s presence in our daily lives.

In this project, you will create a box that can hold quick prayers. You place them inside as an act of offering them to God. It is used for remembering the ways God has provided for you, is protecting you, or teaching you.

A prayer box can also be a way of lifting up the injustices you see in the world.  It helps us to ask God to move in our hearts and the hearts of others so we can act together to bring about justice.

When you have prayers in an accessible place in your home you are reminded of God’s action in your life.

How to create a “prayer box”:

 

step 1: Find a box

You might have one lying around or simply purchase a sturdy box from a craft store. 

 

Step 2: Decorate the box

Remember, the goal is to create something beautiful to hold your prayers.  Consider painting on the outside and inside of the box any way you choose. You can also use colored tissue paper or old magazines that you cut/tear and glue on. If you are adhering things to the box, I suggest you use white glue or some other liquid adhesive.  Rubber cement works well, but avoid a glue stick to ensure longevity.

 

Step 3: Write down your prayers

On a small piece of paper write a prayer of thanksgiving, a lament, or a hope that you have for your future. It can be just a few words and doesn’t need to be long-winded or impressive.

Consider creating a weekly or daily ritual of adding something to your prayer box.

Maybe you do it one night a week as a family around the dinner table. You could each add something you are thankful to God for, share it aloud as well if you are comfortable.

You could use this as a time to share a concern with one another and with God. This can also increase intimacy in your family.

Practice just accepting the concerns and feelings of those in your family as valid, and remind them of your support.

God can comfort them through your presence if you allow that to happen. 

 

Step 4: Check back in

Look through the prayers from time to time to see if any of them have been answered or if your desires have changed. This can be a wonderful way to see how active God is in your life.

This review can be very encouraging!  It allows us to remember all of the things we have been given and thanked God for in the past. 

 

Prayer boxes and children

If you are part of a family with little ones, this can be a simple way to introduce daily or weekly prayer and also gratitude. Allowing your children to see you offer your gratitude and concerns can help foster a trusting relationship with God.

Please be aware though that children benefit from believing their parents have things under control, so choose carefully which prayer concerns you would write down and include in the box to not create unnecessary worry. 

 

Why should we make a prayer box?

Most importantly, drawing our attention to the gifts God has given us brings about a sense of well-being and gratitude. Additionally, we use this as an opportunity to lift up the things that we tend to worry about. We remember God’s trustworthiness and faithfulness which helps us to feel more peace.

I hope you try out this practice and I hope you find that it also brings you a sense of peace and God’s nearness. 

Let me know if you try this at home and how it is working for you by leaving a comment!