I love to pray.  And if I’m being completely transparent, it is my heart’s desire to do it more often and for longer.  I would think the kids I lead are in the same boat.  So anytime we get to use a tool or item to pray more, it delights my heart.

When I attended last fall’s CEF Conference they offered Mobile Prayer Bags at the Hospitality desk.  The Mobile Prayer Bag could be checked out for two hours to enjoy the various tools that would facilitate prayer. When you returned the bag you needed only to return a couple of items with permission to consume or use the others.

The brochure provided inside the bag provided tools to facilitate prayer that included a rope, a quilted prayer finger labyrinth, a snack bag of M&Ms, lectio divina directions, and a sample paint card.

It got me thinking of how to ‘bring it home’ and offer Praying On The Go and to offer it monthly in 2015.  I could prepare 20+ bags with a monthly theme to be picked up by the families at their leisure from the information table along the Children’s Ministry hallway.

In January, I included a 6 inch wooden cross, left overs from an activity from last year, and included a Praying Through My Home booklet with directions.  I posted this activity under the title “Bless This House.”

For February, I have just set out the new POGO bags for M&M Prayers with snack bags of M&Ms and the following:

Find a quiet spot, take a deep breath, and open your bag of M&Ms. As you put an M&M in your mouth, close your eyes and take time to feel and taste as the candy melts in your mouth. As the candy melts, turn your thoughts to God, and use the color code below to focus your prayers:

Red candy: Think about the greatness of God. Think about the great things God has made.

Take a deep breath, hold it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper “God, You are great.”

Orange candy: Thank God for the blessings you have received and the goodness in your life.

Take a deep breath, hold it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper, “God, You are good.”

Yellow candy: Pray for those who are in need of basic human needs; food, shelter, water, peace.

Take a deep breath, hold it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper, “Thank you, God.”

Brown candy: Pray for those close to you or far away in need of God’s guiding spirit, that they will feel God’s abundant love in their life.

Take a deep breath, holding it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper, “Help them, God.”

Blue candy: Confess to God (agree with God) that you are sometimes weak and fail to follow God as you should. Ask God to help you stay strong.

Take a deep breath, holding it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper, “Forgive me, God.”

Green candy: Sit in silence as you ask God to hear your prayers, those spoken and those that are unsaid in your heart.

Take a deep breath, holding it counting to 5, then breathe out slowly and whisper, “Praise you, God, for hearing my prayers.”

For March?  Paint strips from the home improvement store for lectio divina.  For October?  Prayers for our Pastor since it’s Clergy Appreciation Month.  For June?  Bicycle prayers.  I’ll post as I go.

Anytime I can help facilitate the use of the holy practices of God’s people among my kids, I want to give ample opportunity for my parents to be the heroes.  This is just another way I can be a part of that.

“I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are upon you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12