How to Get Children to Pray?

Tim Challies has an interesting quote from George Whitefield on how he once got a child to pray.

Had a good instance of the benefit of breaking children’s wills betimes. Last night, going between decks (as I do every night) to visit the sick and to examine my people, I asked one of the women to bid her little boy say his prayers. She answered his elder sister would, but she could not make him. Upon this I bid the child kneel down before me, but he would not till I took hold of his two feet and forced him down. I then bid him say the Lord’s prayer (being informed by his mother he could say it if he would), but he obstinately refused, till at last, after I had given him several blows, he said his prayer as well as could be expected and I gave him some figs for a reward.

Whitefield was an incredibly godly man used greatly by the Lord, but here’s my advice: Don’t try this at home (or anywhere else for that matter).

Read the whole post at Challies.com.

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