Christian child's prayer
A Christian child's prayer is Christian prayer recited primarily by children that is typically short, rhyming or has a memorable tune. It is said before bedtime, to give thanks for a meal, or as a nursery rhyme. Many of these prayers have a long tradition and come directly from the Bible. While termed "Christian child's prayer", the examples here are almost exclusively used and promoted by Protestants. Catholics and Orthodox Christians have their own set of children's prayers, often invoking Mary the Mother of Jesus, the saints and including a remembrance of the dead. Some adult prayers are equally popular with children, such as the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31, Matthew 7:12), the Doxology, the Serenity Prayer, John 3:16 and, for older children, The Lord's Prayer and Psalm 23.
Bedtime Prayer
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
original version
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I die before I wake,
I pray for Lord my soul to take. Amen
More recent variants:
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord, my soul to keep;
Guide me safely through the night
and wake me with the morning's light
Amen
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord, my soul to keep;
Keep me safe through the night
and wake me with the morning light
If I should die before I wake,
I pray for Lord my soul to take. Amen
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I'll assume I'll rise rested and at peace.
For I know all day I tried my best
To treat all others with respect.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord, my soul to keep;
Angels watch me through the night
and keep me in their blessed sight.
Amen
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
If I should live another day
I pray the Lord to guide my way
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
There are four corners on my bed,
There are four angels over head,
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
God bless this bed that I lay on.
Giving thanks
God Is Great
- With these additional lines, it is sung to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star":
God is great and God is good.
And we thank him for our food.
By his hands we all are fed.
Thank you, Lord, for our daily bread.
God is great and God is good,
And we thank him for our food.Amen.
Thank You Lord
Thank you my God for the day you have given us! Thank you because you are great and worthy. Thank you for another day of living, Thank you for each breath we have taken Thank you for dying on that cross my God For our sins! Forgive our sins, Lord Amen
Come Lord Jesus
Come Lord Jesus, be our guest,
let this food to us be blessed, Amen
A Slovak Lutheran tradition adds a second verse:
And may there be a goodly share
on every table everywhere.
A variant often used in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is
Come Lord Jesus, be our guest,
let these gifts to us be blessed, Amen
Organized prayer
Regent's prayer
Almighty God,
we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee,
and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents,
our teachers and our country.
Philmont grace
For food, for raiment,
for life, for opportunity,
for friendship and fellowship,
we thank you, O Lord.
S Bar F grace
For the gifts of food and freedom,
And the hills to roam.
For the crimson sunsets
And the Earth, our home
For the stars at night
And the gentle winds in the trees
We thank you, Great Spirit, for all of these
Nursery rhymes
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me - this I know,
For the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me, he who died,
Heaven's gate to open wide.
He will wash away my sin;
Let his little child come in.
Jesus loves me, loves me still,
Though I'm very weak and ill.
From his shining throne on high,
Comes to watch me where I lie.
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way
Then his little child will take
Up to heaven for his dear sake.
- 1860 poem by Anna Bartlett Warner, set to music in 1862 with added chorus by William Batchelder Bradbury. This is the original version; rewritten versions are common.
Jesus Loves the Little Children
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in his sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
- Words written by preacher Clarence Herbert Woolston (1856–1927)
- Sung to the 1864 Civil War tune "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" by George Fredrick Root
- Inspired by Matthew 19:14: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
- Some versions change Woolston's original words slightly by inserting the color "brown" between "red" and "yellow."
- Some modern versions read 'Ev'ry colour, ev'ry race, all are cover'd by His grace' instead of 'Red and yellow, black, and white, all are precious in His sight.'
- Alternate lyrics:
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Fat and skinny, short and tall,
Jesus loves them one and all,
OR
Jesus died for all the children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in his sight,
Jesus died for all the children of the world.
He's got the Whole World in his hands
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got you and me, brother in his hands.
He's got you and me, sister in his hands.
He's got the little bitty baby in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
Michael Row The Boat Ashore
Michael, row the boat ashore, Alleluia!
Michael, row the boat ashore, Alleluia!
Sister help to trim the sails, Alleluia!
Sister help to trim the sails, Alleluia!
The river is deep and the river is wide, Alleluia!
Milk and honey on the other side, Alleluia!
Jordan's river is chilly and cold, Alleluia!
Chills the body, but not the soul, Alleluia!
If you get there before I do. Alleluia!
Tell my people I'm coming too. Alleluia!