Note to the parent or teacher: Here is a 30- to 45-minute lesson plan to fill out the post “The Parables of Jesus: The Persistent Woman.” It goes with the lesson objectives, “Study more of the parables that Jesus taught and their meaning” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: Jesus, God’s Son-2b); and “Learn to take one’s specific needs and the needs of others to the Lord in prayer, claiming God’s promises and expecting God to act” (Christian Life and Faith: A Personal Connection with Jesus: Prayer-2f).
Read “The Parables of Jesus: The Persistent Woman.” (You can also read this parable in Luke 18:1–8.)
Talk about answers to prayer that the children or you as a family have received recently. Follow that by talking about any prayers that you have not yet received the answers to.
Read “Are You Sure God Answers Prayer?”
Discuss how Jesus hears and answers prayers. Sometimes the answer materializes quickly, but often you have to wait, and while you are waiting, you can ask again. Unlike the woman who repeatedly asked the unjust judge, you aren’t asking Jesus repeatedly until He tires of you asking and then gives in to you. Rather, every time you pray, even if you’re repeating the same request, the act of praying draws you closer to Jesus. It can also encourage your faith that the answer is coming because you know you are doing your part in asking.
Read “A Thought for the Day: Cast Your Anxieties on Jesus.”
Listen to or read “A Bible Adventure: Samuel—A Child from Heaven.” Note that it is widely understood that what was meant by weaned in those days was not about Samuel being old enough to stop nursing, but that Samuel was old enough to live without his mother’s care and training, which would be when he was 12 years old.
Discuss what it must have been like for Hannah when she wanted to have children but had to wait many years before she had her first child. Then talk about how God answered prayer when the time was right for His plan for the firstborn, Samuel.
We don’t know why God waited so long to answer her prayer, but He did. Perhaps Eli wouldn’t have been ready to train 12-year-old Samuel if he had been born a few years earlier. Or perhaps Hannah was learning important spiritual principles that would enable her to train her son, Samuel, well enough so that he would be fit for further training from Eli.
As we read the story further, we learn how Samuel had a strong relationship with God and was eager to obey Him. (Read 1 Samuel 3.)
Read “A Thought for the Day: A Way of Life.”
Review “Crazily Cool Card Set: Prayer Power” and “Crazily Cool Card Set: Prayer Power, 2.” Feel free to print these out for your children to color and keep to remind them of these promises.
End on the encouraging note of “A Thought for the Day: Jesus Cares” while remembering the thought from “A Thought for the Day: Prayer Is the Mouse….”
Additional material:
Compiled by My Wonder Studio staff.
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