Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer: A True Story of How You Can Talk With God by Laura Wifler. Illustrated by Catalina Echeverri

Young children are introduced to the nature of prayer in this children’s picture book, which spans the biblical narrative from Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and their fall into sin; to the exodus of Israel from Egypt; to Samuel, Jonah, and Nehemiah; to the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ; and, finally, to Jesus’ promised second coming.  

Children will learn that Adam and Eve’s initial joy and intimacy with God was marred by sin that “spoils beautiful things.” The first couple no longer felt free to talk with God, and they hid from him. But God wanted a relationship with them, so he pursued them. As a consequence of their rebellion, they were banished from the Garden of Eden. Talking with God in prayer was no longer a comfortable, joyful, and easy experience for them and their descendants. Sometimes they didn’t know what to say to God, and other times they didn’t want to bother praying. 

But “God kept reminding his people that he wanted them to talk with him about anything, anytime, anyplace.” When Jesus was on earth, people brought their requests directly to him, and he taught them how to pray with the words of what we now call The Lord’s Prayer. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, he sent his Holy Spirit who continued to help people pray in all kinds of circumstances. One day, when Jesus returns, “we’ll talk with God face to face, just like in the garden.”  

Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer would make an excellent addition to a family’s devotional library. (The Good Book Company)