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CHILDREN’S DEVOTIONS Someday this Children's Prayers webpage will have multitudinous links available. But for now, your using is much like having the book itself, a 61-page book (having large print) of the prayers that this famous translator of the Bible--Gerrit Verkuyl--recommends. Read through the index and jot down the prayer listings that interest you both for content and age applicability. Then begin your scroll down to find the area of matching prayer numbers. Copy and paste, or handwrite them down; whichever you choose. This page is organized exactly as Dr. Verkuyl's small book for parents and the teachers of small children, even up through the middle grades. Always watch for your prayer number to be in the brackets, such as [7]. This book came out in the 1930s. Note: a grace before meals I wrote and taught both my small daughters they can still repeat today at ages 29 and 30--see [13] for this.
The Author describes his book as “Containing private and united prayers for children, and suggestions for Bible reading, memory work, and clean books.” Of particular worth reading is Gerrit’s advice to parents and teachers (printed from pages 58-61 of his small book). Clif’s Note regarding Thee and Thou as pronouns for the Deity: These have now come to be very often used for addressing God and are often part of these prayer or song rhyme schemes. No attempt has here been made to alter this style. Also, in the few cases where the King James Version scripture is misleading by Today’s word practice, the Berkeley Version is substituted in its place—a translation later completed by Dr. Verkuyl in the 1940s, but not existing by the time of this 1937 children’s devotions book. [1] THE CHILD JESUS Jesus was once a little child And very much like me; He played and romped, and every night He knelt at mother’s knee. But Jesus never did a wrong, As we so often do; He always did the Father’s will And pleased his parents, too.
The boys and girls of Nazareth With whom he used to play Had always just the nicest time Throughout the happy day. Let’s try to be like Jesus, then, It would please him well, I know. And if we really strive for this Earth will be heaven below.
[2] A MORNING PRAYER Most of us ask the heavenly Father each evening to keep us safely through the night. But each morning we begin a day we have never lived before. We know that many things will happen before the day is over. We have plans for the day and wonder how everything is going to turn out. How fine that God cares to have us talk things over with him!
No one else is so ready and able to stay with us through the day as is Jesus, our Friend. We need his help and surely if we talk to him at night we should have a few moments of prayer with him early in the morning. Bad temper, ugly words, telling untruths, taking things which do not belong to us—all these and many other evils tempt us not at night but during the day. Besides, there are so many splendid things we may do during the day, in our reading, our writing, our studies, our work, and our play, which cannot be done while we are asleep; but to do our very best with them we need God’s help and blessing.
How happy a habit it is, then, to kneel before God each morning, to ask for his help through the whole day and to thank him for keeping us all night. One fine man who is mentioned in the Bible was in the habit of saying to God just as he was ready to retire, “In peace will I both lay me down and sleep; for thou, Lord, alone makes me dwell in safety.” In the morning he would look up to God again and say, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustains me.” In this way he could start a day full of happiness and service for God and for others. He had courage and strength because he felt sure that God was with him every moment.
In all countries of the world in which God is known his children whether small or great observe this beautiful custom of praying to the heavenly Father early in the morning. Let us kneel to him each morning with a prayer.
[3] TEN PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN UNDER EIGHT Jesus, help me through this day In my work and in my play Both to love and to obey. Amen.
Jesus, Friend of little children, Be this day a Friend to me. Take my hand and surely keep me Near and dear and close to thee. Amen
Thank you, Dear Jesus, for keeping me safely all night. Please be very close to me today. Amen.
The morning bright, with rosy light, Has waked me up from sleep; Father, I own thy love alone Thy little one doth keep. Amen.
Dear Jesus, I will give today All I may do or think or say; Giving thee all for what was done On earth by thee for everyone. Amen.
I thank thee, Father, for my rest; Help me today to do my best. Glad and happy would I be, So I pray for help from thee. Amen.
How kind and good thou art, Lord Jesus, for taking care of us. Wilt thou remember us all the day long and help us not to forget thee. Please help father and mother, too, as they do so much for us. Amen.
Father, we thank thee for the night, And for the pleasant morning light; For rest and food and loving care, And all that makes the day so fair. Amen.
Help us to do the things we should, To be to others kind and good; In all we do in work or play To grow more loving every day. Amen.
(Occasionally parents may join the child) Father in heaven, help thy little children, To love and serve thee throughout this day. Help us to be truthful; help us to be kindly; That we may please thee in all we do and say. Amen.
[4] FOR CHILDREN OF EIGHT AND OLDER At the opening of this day Lord, we kneel to thee and pray; Thou hast kept us through the night; Thou has brought us to the light. All the day protect and cheer us; Give us strength and be thou near us. Help us to be brave and true In what we think and say and do. Amen.
Jesus, keep me all this day, When at school and when at play; Help me to do the things I ought; Help me hate each evil thought. Help me love and trust in thee Now and through eternity. Amen.
For this new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, for home and friends, For everything thy goodness sends, We thank thee, heavenly Father. Amen.
Jesus, tender Shepherd, bless me all the day, Keep me in thy footsteps; never let me stray. Guard me through the daytime every hour, I pray; Help me to walk onward in thy perfect way. Amen.
Our Master and our Friend, thou knowest how often we let words slip from us which afterwards we regret. Set thou a watch before our lips and keep the doors of our mouths, we pray thee. Inspire us with great thoughts so that we shall not be led into the petty and hurtful things. For thy name’s sake. Amen.
We thank thee, our heavenly Father, for the night’s rest. The day before us is thine and we are thine. Grant us the strength and the wisdom to serve thee well, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
We do not know, O Lord, what may happen during the day; but thou knowest. Prepare our hearts, we pray, that we may do thy perfect will. In moments of temptation be thou closest, O Christ, so that we may overcome and may honor thee in our conduct. Then shall we thank thee from the heart. Amen.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer. Amen.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Amen.
[5] ON A SUNDAY MORNING This is thy day, O Lord, in all the earth. Wilt thou be present whenever thy Word shall be brought. We pray thee especially for our missionaries who are so far from their homeland. In their loneliness wilt thou give them a taste of thy close friendship; in weariness may they have thy strength! Help us also to take our part in the extension of thy Kingdom. Through Jesus Christ, our Helper. Amen.
The day returns and brings us the petty round of irritating concerns and duties. Help us to play the man; help us to perform them with laughter and kind faces. Let cheerfulness abound with industry. Give us to go blithely on our business all this day. Bring us to our resting beds weary and content and undishonored, and grant us in the end the gift of sleep.
I thank Thee, heavenly Father, for keeping me safe and from danger through the night. Thou art good to me, and I want to love thee and be thy child. Help me to do nothing wrong today. May I be happy and kind and useful! Help me to be honest in all my work and fair in my play. May I find some place today where I may do a good turn to someone, and may I be kept from boasting when it is done. When night comes again may I be stronger and better than I am now because thou hast taught and helped me! I ask it for my Master’s sake. Amen.
How strong and sweet my Father’s care, That round about me, like the air, Is with me always, everywhere! He cares for me. Oh, keep me ever in thy love, Dear Father, watching from above, And let me still thy mercy prove, And care for me. Amen.
[6] SUGGESTED PRAYERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE I need thee to teach me day by day, according to each day’s opportunities and needs. Give me, O my Lord, that purity of conscience which alone can receive, which alone can improve thy inspirations. My ears are dull, so that I cannot hear thy voice. My eyes are dim, so that I cannot see thy tokens. Thou alone canst quicken my hearing, and purge my sight, and cleanse and renew my heart. Teach me to sit at thy feet, and to hear thy word. Amen.
Hear our prayer, O Lord, and consider our desires. Give unto us true humility, a meek and quiet spirit, a loving and a friendly, a holy and a useful manner of life; bearing the burdens of our neighbors, denying ourselves, and studying to benefit others, and to please thee in all things. Grant us to be righteous in performing promises, loving to our relatives, careful of our charges; to be gentle and easy to be entreated, slow to anger, and readily prepared for every good work. Amen.
O God, the day may have shadows for us, or it may bring us hardship and self-denial; but we shall not be afraid. Our path through gloom shall lead to joy and peace. So we will press on in patient self-denial, accepting the hardship, not shrinking from the loss. Our blessing lies beyond the hour of trial, our crown beyond the cross. Let us not falter in any experience. Let not the world have dominion over us today. Help us to fix our eyes on the heavenly hills, and to press on to the glory that waits for us there with thee. Hear us, O God, and grant to us thy blessing and grace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
O God, who hast commanded that no man should be idle, give us grace to employ all our talents and faculties in the service appointed for us; that, whatsoever our hand finds to do, we may do with our might. Cheerfully may we go in the road which thou hast marked out, not desiring too earnestly that it should be either more smooth or more wide; but, daily seeking one way in thy light, may we trust ourselves and the issue of our journey to thee, the Fountain of joy, and sing songs of praise as we go along. Then, O Lord, receive us at the gate of life which thou hast opened for us in Jesus Christ. Amen.
[7] AN EVENING PRAYER There was a boy once who had a little talk with the heavenly Father every evening before he went to sleep. At times he felt very lonely, for he was not living with his father and mother. They had asked God for him and when God had heard their prayers they were so thankful that they gave their boy back to God. His name was Samuel. One evening when the boy Samuel had finished the day’s work and had taken a final look to see that the lights were still burning in God’s house he prayed as usual and fell asleep. But scarcely had he dropped off when someone seemed to call him. He sat up in bed, listening, and looking about, but nobody was in sight. But the call had been clear enough, so he went at once to Eli, the high priest, who had charge of the house of God, and said, “Here am I; you called me.” Eli was very much surprised to see the boy at that hour of the night and replied, “Go, lie down again. I did not call you.” This seemed very strange indeed to Samuel; but he did what Eli told him. A few moments passed when the voice was heard again, “Samuel, Samuel.” The boy had never heard God speaking to him with a human voice and it did not occur to him that this time the Lord might be calling. He ran back to Eli’s bed, saying, “Here am I; for you did call me.” Of course, the high priest, who had not heard any voice, told him again, though very gently, “Lie down, my son, for I did not call thee.” When for the third time the call came and Samuel again presented himself to the high priest, Eli saw that God must be calling the lad and instructed him what to say when the next call should come. Once more the voice of God broke the stillness, “Samuel, Samuel.” Then Samuel said, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant is listening.” Millions of people pray to God every evening just before they go to bed. But until we use our own words it is well that we know several prayers.
[8] FOR VERY SMALL CHILDREN Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep; Glad and well may I awake. And this I ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Kind and loving Savior, Hear me as I pray; Keep me every moment Till the light of day. Amen.
Lord Jesus, when you as a boy Knelt by your bed at night You trusted God would care for you In darkness and in light. So as I kneel beside my bed I’m glad you don’t forget That you were once a little child; That children need you yet. Amen.
Father, bless thy child tonight; Wake me with the morning light. May I pure and holy be, Daily growing more like thee. Amen.
Thank you, precious Jesus, for being close to me all this day. Please keep me near you through the coming night and protect me from harm. Bless father and mother, teacher, pastor, and all those we love. Amen.
[9] FOR CHILDREN OF PRIMARY AGE Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me; Bless thy little lamb tonight; Through the darkness be thou near me; Keep me safe till morning light. All this day thy hand has led me, And I thank thee for thy care; Thou hast clothed me, warmed and fed me; Listen to my evening prayer. Amen.
[This and every evening prayer should be followed by the child’s petition for forgiveness, and blessing on loved ones.]
All praise to thee, O Lord, this night For all the blessings of the light. Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, Beneath thine own almighty wings. Amen.
Dear Lord, this evening I would pray To keep and guide me night and day. Help me to know thee better, Lord, To live as taught in thy dear Word; And may the night’s rest mean to me A day of better praise to thee. Amen.
I thank thee for the love so true that watched o’er me the long day through. Dear Jesus, keep me all this night And wake me with the morning light. Amen.
Blessed Lord, we thank thee For thy care today; Make us good and gentle, Take our sins away. Bless the friends who love us; From all evil keep; May thy holy angels Guard us while we sleep. Amen.
Dear Jesus, we do not know how many times we were in danger today; but we know that thou hast brought us in safety to this evening. Accept our thanks for thy goodness and wilt thou still be with us through the hours of darkness. Forgive our sins and bless what we have done for thee. Be with all our loved ones, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
[10] FOR CHILDREN OF JUNIOR AGE AND OLDER Into thy tender care, into thy keeping, Thou who art everywhere, take us while sleeping. Let thine almighty arm closely enfold us; Nothing can hurt or harm while thou dost hold us. Amen.
The birds have their nest and the foxes find rest In the shade of the forest tree; But thy bed was the sod, O thou strong Son of God, By the hillsides of Galilee. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for thee.
Lord Jesus, today in our work and our play Thou hast kept us from hurt and alarm; In thy mercy and might keep us safely tonight And grant us to rest without harm; When the morning shall break may we happily wake, Because underneath is thine arm. Amen.
Night and day and everywhere, Jesus, keep us in thy care. While the evening gently falleth It is thy voice which softly calleth. Grant us, Lord, a wholesome rest; Wake us happy and refreshed. Amen.
Our loving Father, we thank thee for thy help and for thy constant care. Where we have wandered, O gracious God, look upon us in Jesus Christ and in thy great mercy forgive. Be with us through the watches of the night and grant us refreshing sleep. For the Redeemer’s sake. Amen.
We thank thee, our Lord and Savior, for health and all the helpful things of life; for they are thy gifts. Strengthen our wills, we pray thee, to present our bodies as living sacrifices to thee. Cleanse us, O Lord, from every thought and deed which does not honor thee. Then shall we be pure and true even as thou hast planned us. We ask it in the name of Jesus, our great Helper. Amen.
Dear Father, I thank thee for all the beautiful things that thou hast made, and I am happy, too, when I think that God made me, and loves me, and takes care of me. I thank thee for the home where so much is done to make me happy and good. Forgive me for all the wrong that I have done today and help me to do better tomorrow, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
[11] A THANK YOU AT THE TABLE It is very nice to think The world is full of meat and drink, With little children saying grace In every Christian kind of place. —Robert Louis Stevenson
One day by the blue waters of lake Galilee Jesus had been preaching to hundreds and thousands of people. Among them were many boys and girls who had come with their fathers and mothers because they wanted so much to see Jesus. Everyone got as near as possible; but the boys got nearest, because they could squeeze in between the rest. The people were so interested in what Jesus had to say and so many questions had they to ask of him that it was late in the day before they noticed it. They had forgotten all about eating dinner, too, so that, when at last Jesus no longer taught them, they were hungry and tired. Jesus knew all this and told his disciples to give the people something to eat before they must walk home. This seemed impossible to the disciples, for there were thousands of people, and they had no food with them; neither had they the money to buy for so many. Just then Philip, one of the disciples, noticed a boy who had pressed clear up to the front and who carried two small fishes and five cakes of barley bread. He asked the boy if he would like to give his lunch to Jesus, and the boy was very glad to do so. Jesus took the fishes and the cakes in his hand and told the disciples to have all the people seated on the grass in regular divisions of fifties and hundreds. Then the Master looked up to heaven and thanked the Father above for the food. He also blessed it. After that the disciples distributed the food among the people and found that there was enough and to spare. Every time we read of Jesus’ eating it is told us that he thanked the heavenly Father, who gives these good gifts to us. And we who are his followers should give thanks, too, whenever and wherever we eat.
[12] FOR VERY SMALL CHILDREN Precious Jesus, thou art good And we thank thee for this food. Amen.
Dear Father, bless the food we take And bless us all, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Thank you, loving Jesus, for this food; and wilt thou bless it? Amen.
God bless this food and bless us all And keep us safe whate’er befall. Amen.
[13] FOR CHILDREN OF PRIMARY AGE Dear Lord: You have blessed us with a lovely day And now we have this to say: Thank you for your love and the fun Of having a God who is like someone We can trust and we can sing to. Bless this food now, won’t you? In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God is great and God is good And we thank him for this food. By his hand must all be fed; Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen.
Be present, at our table, Lord, Be here and everywhere adored; Thy children bless, and grant that we May eat and drink to honor thee. Amen.
Thou has again remembered us, O Lord, and we would not forget thee. Bless this food, we pray, and help us to serve thee well. Amen.
We come to thee, our heavenly Father, to thank thee for thy loving care. Help us to us these gifts of thy hand gladly to do thy bidding. Amen.
For these and all thy gifts of love We give thee thanks and praise; Look down, O Father, from above And bless us all our days. Amen.
[14] FOR CHILDREN OF JUNIOR AGE AND OVER Now we thank thee, Father in heaven, For this food which thou hast given. Bless us all as we partake; Give us strength for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
We ask thee, gracious Savior, To be our present Guest. Grant to our bodies added strength And may our souls be blest. Amen.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Amen.
“Giver of every good and perfect gift, the eyes of all wait upon thee and thou givest them their meat in due season.” Favor us with thy blessing, we pray, as we partake of these bounties. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
In the midst of our work, dear Savior, we gather around this table which is thine. Thou hast covered it with thy kindness and we praise thee for thy gifts to us. Transform this food into strength, O Lord, and the strength into noble service. We ask it in thy name. Amen.
“Oh give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his lovingkindness endureth forever.” Amen.
[15] DEVOTIONS IN UNISON — These suggestions apply to all religious work with children, in Sunday schools, Junior societies, mission circles, and daily Bible schools.
[16] When Jesus was on the earth and people could see him and listen to his voice, the mothers who knew him were very anxious to have their children near him. And every child, as soon as it saw his pure and loving face, wanted to cuddle close to him. The disciples who were with Jesus thought that he had come to preach to the grown people and not to play with children; so they told the mothers to take away their little ones and no longer to trouble the Master. When Jesus noticed this he corrected so great a mistake, saying, “Allow the little ones and do not stop them from coming to Me, for of this kind the kingdom of heaven is composed.” Then he took the children up in his arms and blessed them. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He loves little children, and older boys and girls, too, as fondly now as he ever did. We can come to him with our smiles and our tears, with our songs and our prayers, and he is always ready to listen.
[17] FOR SMALL CHILDREN [Near the beginning of the service] Jesus, who once blest the children In the land of Galilee, Bless us, too, as we have gathered From our homes to learn of thee. Amen.
We are glad you have invited us to your house, dear Father. Help us to sing and to pray with happy hearts. Amen.
Loving hearts that gladly meet you, willing hands upraised to greet you, Ears and eyes and lips we bring, Jesus, as we softly sing, “Father, we thank you: Father in heaven, We thank you.”
Jesus, who hast called us here From our homes and parents dear, Hear our singing, hear our prayer, And be with us everywhere. Amen.
[Missionary prayer] Lord, bless the little children In all the world, we pray; Help everyone to love thee And keep us in thy way. Amen.
[Prayer with the offering] Father, bless our school today; Be in all we do and say; Be in every song we sing, Bless the offering which we bring. May we in the lesson see Something telling us of thee. Amen.
[A prayer song] “‘Give,’ said the little stream, ‘Give, or give, give, oh give,’ ‘Give,’ said the little stream, As it hurried down the hill. ‘I am small, I know, but wherever I go The fields grow greener still.’ Singing, singing all the day, ‘Give away, oh, give away.’”
[A prayer near the closing] Savior, in this happy hour Thou hast been so near us; Through the sunshine and the shower Wilt thou ever hear us. Every moment, every day, For thy loving care we pray. Amen.
[Frequently it is well to precede the children’s prayer with the caution:] “We fold our hands that we may be From all our play and work set free. We boy our heads as we draw near The King of kings, our Father dear. We close our eyes that we may see Nothing to take our thoughts from thee.”
[18] FOR CHILDREN OF PRIMARY AGE
[Near the opening] We thank Thee for thy holy day; Lord, hear thy children as they pray; Teach us to follow in thy way, In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Loving Jesus, hear our prayer And thy blessed answer give; By thy grace our hearts prepare, That for thee we learn to live. Amen.
[The Christmas Story—Luke 2:8-15] 8 “There were in the same country shepherds, staying in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 “And an angel of the Lord stood by them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared with a great fear. 10 “And the angel said to them, ‘Have no fear, for behold, I announce to you the good news of great joy that shall be for all the people; 11 “‘for today there was born for you in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “‘And this is a token for you: You will find the Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’ 13 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 “‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of His favor!’ 15 “As the angels went from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem and let us see what happened that the Lord has made known to us.’”
[A motion exercise] “I’ve two little hands to work for Jesus, One little tongue his praise to tell; Two little ears to hear his counsel, One little voice a song to swell. Lord, we come, Lord, we come, In our childhood’s early morning, Lord, we come, Lord, we come, Come to learn of thee.”
[A prayer for missions] Everywhere Thy children gather On this holy day; But if some do not yet know thee Bring them soon, we pray. Precious Jesus, bless the teaching Of thy holy Word; May thy light and thy salvation Reach o’er all the earth. Amen.
Gifts without number we have received from Thee, O Lord; wilt thou accept this offering from us thy children as a token of our thankfulness to thee? Amen.
[A prayer song with the offering] “Can a little child, like me, Thank the Father fittingly? Yes, oh, yes! Be good and true, Patient, kind in all you do: Love the Lord, and do your part; Learn to say with all your heart: ‘Father, we thank thee! Father, we thank thee! Father in heaven, we thank thee!’”
[A prayer near the closing] For the teaching of Thy Word We sincerely thank thee, Lord. Help us in our daily living So to use what thou art giving That our friends who hear and see Draw the closer unto thee. Amen
O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray, Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today. Amen.
Thy presence, O Savior Christ, is not in our meetings only; but thou art with us always. Help us to think of thee as our constant Friend and to turn to thee with our hopes, our prayers, and our weaknesses. Amen.
Father, let thy benediction, Gently falling as the dew, And thine ever-gracious presence Keep us strong and pure and true. Amen.
[19] FOR JUNIOR AGE [Near the opening] We have gathered in Thy name, Young and full of life we came; Father, hear our pleading. Teach us lessons that endure, Help us to be brave and pure. Lord, we seek thy leading. Amen.
Our Lord and Savior, for this day With rest and song and prayer, We render thanks to thee. O help us, Master, all the way, Whatever we do, wherever we are, Still to remember thee. Amen.
[A prayer for missions] Lord, in the midst of thine abundant graces We would not merely pray for us alone; But we remember dark and needy places Where heroes of the sacred cross have gone. O Father, bless thy Word that shall be spoken; Bring wandering hearts from darkness into light. Grant to thy servants everywhere this token: Lives changing through thy wondrous love and might. Amen.
[A prayer with the offering] The earth is Thine and its fullness, O Lord, and we come before thee with this portion, which first we received from thy hand. In thy grace wilt thou bless it; then shall it be a blessing. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.
[At such a time and also personally during the week] Thine we are, O blessed Savior, Body, mind, and soul. Bowed in prayer we plead thy favor, Yield to thy control. Thine we are, Lord Jesus, take us, Sinful though we may be, Lead us all the way and make us Servants true to thee. Amen.
Lord, we need thy keeping grace In the struggles we must face. Sorely tempted we may be, Losing, were it not for thee. Guide us, Savior, by thy hand, Help us follow thy command; Every day we want to show Whom we love and serve and know. Amen.
[Prayer near the closing] “The Lord will keep you from all harm; he will preserve your soul. The Lord will shield your going out and your coming in from now on for evermore.” Amen.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer.” Amen.
Our Savior, as we part we lift our hearts to thee In songs of love and praise for blessings full and free. Attend us to our homes, stay with us through the week; Wherever we may be—help us thy praise to seek. Amen.
(Let the leader suggest:) Jesus as a boy, “advanced… in favor with God and men.” Let us bow before him silently and each of us ask him for a healthy body to serve him well, for a clear mind, and for true friendships with other boys and girls and with older people. Amen.
O Lord, our divine Helper, as we go out into life with its pleasures, its opportunities, and its pitfalls, we earnestly beseech thee for sufficient strength at every turn. Enable us with willing hearts to present our bodies as living sacrifices unto thee. From every degrading thought cleanse thou our minds and help us to center our ambitions upon the purposes which thou hast revealed, O Father, in thy Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
[A prayer song] “Just as I am, thine own to be, Friend of the young, who lovest me, To consecrate myself to thee, O Jesus Christ, I come, I come.
“Just as I am, young, strong, and free, To be the best that I can be For truth, and righteousness, and thee, Lord of my life, I come, I come. Amen.”
MISCELLANEOUS SUGGESTIONS [Salute to the United States flag] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
[Salute to the Christian flag] I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Savior for whose Kingdom it stands; one brotherhood, uniting all mankind in service and love.
[The child’s Ten Commandments] 1. Thou shalt have no gods but me. 2. Before no idol bow the knee. 3. Take not the name of God in vain. 4. Dare not the Sabbath Day profane. 5. Give both thy parents honor due. 6. Hate not, that thou no murder do. 7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean. 8. Steal not; for thou by God are seen. 9. Make not a willful lie, nor love it. 10. What is thy neighbor’s do not covet.
[Jesus’ law] “This is the first and great command, To love thy God above; And this the second: As thyself Thou shalt thy neighbor love. Who is my neighbor? He who needs The help that I can give. And both the law and prophets say: This do and thou shalt live.”
[A child’s creed] “I believe in god above; I believe in Jesus’ love; I believe his Spirit, too, Comes to teach me what to do; I believe that I must be True and good, dear Lord, like thee. Amen.”
[A child’s Bible alphabet] Abhor that which is evil. Be kind one to another. Cease to do evil; learn to do well. Depart from evil, and do good. Enter not into temptation. Fear God, and keep his commandments. Glorify God. Honor your father and your mother. In everything give thanks. Judge not, so you may not be judged. Keep your tongue from evil. Love one another. My son, give me your heart. No man can serve two masters. Obey your parents in the Lord. Pray without ceasing. Quench not the Spirit. Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth. Speak the truth. Trust in the Lord forever. Verily, I say unto you, He that believes has everlasting life. Watch and pray. Yield yourselves unto the Lord.
[A Proverbs alphabet] Buy the truth, and do not sell it. 23:23 Commit your works unto the Lord. 16:3 Despise not your mother when she is old. 23:22 Enter not into the path of the wicked. 4:14 Fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 3:7 Get wisdom, get understanding. 4:5 Hear instruction, and be wise. 8:33 If sinners entice you, do not consent. 1:10// I love them that love me; and those that seek me diligently shall find me. 8:17 Justice… is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 21:3 Keep your heart with all diligence. 4:23 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord. 12:22 My son, forget not my law. 3:1 Neither turn away from the words of my mouth. 4:5 Obtain favor of the Lord. 8:35 Put away from you a wayward mouth. 4:24 Rejoice not when your enemy falls. 24:17 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 3:5 Understanding is a wellspring of life. 16:22 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler. 20:1
[God’s special messages to children] Honor your father and your mother, so that your life may be lengthened in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. Ex. 20:12. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Zech. 8:5. Man looks upon the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Sam. 16:7. I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. Ps. 32:8. God heard the voice of the lad. Gen. 21:17 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” Then Samuel said, “Speak; for thy servant is listening.” 1 Sam. 3:10 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth. Eccl. 12:1. My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not reject your mother’s teaching the law. Prov. 1:8 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52. Jesus saith… “Follow me.” John 1:43. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Gal. 5:22. There is a lad here, with five barley loaves, and two fishes. John 6:9. Everyone therefore who shall acknowledge me before men, him will I acknowledge before my heavenly Father. Matt. 10:32. Allow the children to come to me; do not hinder them, for to their kind belongs the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16. Let no man think little of you because of your youth. 1 Tim. 4:12. Behold, I am coming quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his doings. Rev. 22:12.
[Advice to parents and teachers – Gerrit Verkuyl, pps. 58-61 of the book] Our purpose is not to teach prayers or to suppress the vitality which God has imparted to our children; but rather to teach them how to pray and how to answer the challenge which God gives to every soul he sends into the world according to their powers. “To glorify God, and to enjoy him forever” is still the chief end of man, including the child. The realization of this means happiness in a religious way. Our prayer and aim should be to lead our children into a strong conviction that the more truly they serve God the happier will they be both in this life and in that which is to come. In teaching them to pray may we suggest: 1. Make clear the meaning of each prayer so that the child may have a chance to express through it his own experience and his feelings. 2. Make sure that the child employs the intended language and not some monstrous subversion of it. 3. Allow the child very freely to substitute his own words and ideas as long as these convey a wholesome religious sense. 4. Beware of a mechanical use of prayers. As soon as a certain set of words becomes formal, discourage its use and teach another prayer. Suggest ideas for which to pray, such as: God’s help against temptations, his presence at work and at play, his healing power in sickness, his blessing upon an absent friend, or a word of thanks for some definite blessing he has granted. By suggesting such ideas and at first perhaps the words, the child will slowly learn to frame the ideas into his own words, and later will have his own ideas, of which his prayer will be the expression. 5. The best child prayer is the child’s prayer. Encourage therefore every free expression of the child Godward. 6. Frequently let the child ask “Grace” at the table. Send him from Sunday school or Junior meeting with the suggestion that he request his parents to allow him to ask the blessing at mealtime. Occasionally allow a child to pray singly a prayer intended for all. it will greatly aid him in the liberty that should be his to approach the heavenly Father. 7. So direct the actions of pupils that every prayer shall be clothed with reverence. You will never in the child’s presence smile or laugh at anything he utters in prayer or in connection with it. 8. Answer every question of the child honestly and thoroughly according to the child’s understanding. 9. God’s messages to our children are at least as important as our communications with him. We have numerous chances today to read with them the Bible stories, either from leaflets of Sunday-school lessons or from children’s Bibles, or by putting the words of the Bible into language which the child can grasp. At such times of reading there are frequent opportunities for a brief, informal prayer with our children. 10.
Unless we ourselves are God’s living messages to our children, the
messages of the
[28] “I think when I read that sweet story of old, When Jesus was here among men, How he called little children as lambs to his fold, I should like to have been with them then. I wish that his hands had been placed on my head, That his arm had been thrown around me, And that I might have seen his kind look when he said, ‘Let the little ones come unto me.’ Yet still to his footstool in prayer I may go, And ask for a share in his love; And if I now earnestly seek him below, I shall see him and hear him above.” |
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