The Prayer Journal is a fictional account of one boy’s discovery of the power (and responsibility) of prayer. It is written to help children connect with Christ each day through prayer and reflection. To receive the rest of the story, sign up for the Formative Fiction Newsletter.
Read Part 1 here.
This Journal Belongs to
AARON
9. Monday
Thank you God! I got an A on my spelling test! I’m not grounded anymore.
I worked really hard and you pulled through for me. You answered another prayer. You are amazing!
I’m also thankful I can start playing video games again. A whole week with no games was way too long!
OK, there was my “thank you” prayer that Ms. Jane told me to try. Now on to my “help me” prayer.
Help me . . . get better at basketball.
10. Tuesday
Thank you, God, for the good things my coach said at practice today.
I think he was just being nice, though. He said I played well. He said I was getting better, but he put me back on the bench. I’m not playing in Manny’s position anymore. I’m sure he will be really happy about that tomorrow.
God, I meant that I want to get A LOT better at basketball.
Anyway, here’s my “help me” prayer:
Help me . . . I don’t know. I feel like I keep praying for the same things all the time.
Just help me feel happy tomorrow, OK?
11. Wednesday
Thank you for a good day today, God.
At first I didn’t think today was that great, but when I sat down just now to write in this journal I realized that it was a pretty good day after all.
Manny didn’t make fun of me like I thought he would.
I did pretty well in school today and the teacher even called on me to answer a question–and I got it right!
My sister was extra nice to me for some reason and she didn’t talk my ear off like she usually does.
It was a good day and I was pretty happy. I got my homework finished early and had time to play video games.
I really want to ask for something big. I just don’t know what to ask for. You have answered every one one of my prayers so far. I feel like I should be asking for more.
God, help me make every single shot I take tomorrow at basketball practice. That would be huge!
12. Thursday
OK, this isn’t fair. The coach had us working on our passing today at practice. I only took two shots. I made them both, so thanks for that I guess.
Still, I was hoping to make a bunch of baskets today and really show Manny I’m better than he thinks I am.
What else can I be thankful for? Hmm. Well, how about this:
Thanks for helping out my dad today. He came home and said he got a promotion at work. So, thank you for helping him.
Can I even thank you for things that you do for other people? Or is this prayer journal just about me? I’ll ask Ms. Jane on Sunday.
God, help me do well on my spelling test again tomorrow.
13. Friday
Thanks for a good spelling test. I studied hard again and think I did pretty well. In fact, this whole week was a lot better at school. I must have you to thank for that. I did well on my assignments and people were pretty nice to me. Even Manny wasn’t that mean.
So, it was a much better week. Thank you!
Here’s my “help me” prayer. It’s a big one, God.
Help me be the leading scorer in tomorrow’s basketball game!
14. Saturday
What a horrible game! It was our worst game of the year and it’s all my fault.
I mean, I was the leading scorer on my team. (Thank you, God.) I made three baskets. The problem was that no one else scored more than one or two baskets. We barely scored any points at all.
This is all my fault because I asked you to make me the leading scorer. All of these prayers aren’t going right. I thought I would feel great about being the best scoring player. Instead, I feel awful that we lost.
What am I supposed to pray about?
Help me with that. Help me learn to get better at prayer.
15. Sunday
Ms. Jane was a big help again today at Sunday school.
I told her about the week and the things I prayed about and how sad it all made me to get what I asked for.
When I told her about all the things I wrote about that I was thankful for, she pointed out something that had nothing to do with me. She said it was great that my dad got a promotion at work.
Then, she suggested I should think about other people in prayer and not just myself.
So, I should thank you for the good things that happen to other people first. Then I should ask you to help them, too, and not just help me.
She said that always makes her happier than only praying for herself.
So, here goes:
God, thanks for helping heal my mom’s friend, Mrs. Johnson. She has been really sick and she told my mom at church today that she was better. It made my mom cry.
Also, thanks for Ms. Jane. I don’t know what I would do without her help.
I want to pray for your to help her, but I don’t actually know what she needs. I didn’t ask her about what I could pray for. I’ll have to start doing that, too. I’ll have to start asking people how they need your help.
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