NOW I LAY ME DOWN (2 OF 12)
by Jerry Vines
Scripture: PROVERBS 3:1-10
This content is part of a series.
NOW I LAY ME DOWN (2 of 12)
Proverbs for Parents
Jerry Vines
Proverbs 3:1-10
8/18/2002
I think one of the sweetest times in my life, when
Janet and I were bringing up four little ones, was at
night time. Janet would have them all bathed, in their
jammers and we would get them to their beds and get
ready to tuck them in. Then it would be time for
bedtime prayers.
Do you remember the little bedtime prayer: Now I lay
me down to sleep. I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my
soul to take. How many of you were taught that prayer
or remember that prayer as a little child? Most of you
do.
William Bennett, in his book, BOOK OF VIRTUES,
includes this little bedtime poem and he says that
President John Adams prayed this prayer every night of
his life. It is a prayer which teaches boys and girls
faith in God. It is a prayer which teaches them to put
their trust in the Lord.
Of course, it is very important for parents to teach
the lesson of trust to their boys and girls. There are
some parents who say, "I'm not going to influence my
children in those kinds of areas. I'm going to wait
until they are old enough to choose and if they choose
to have faith in God, fine. But if they choose not to
have faith in God, that is fine."
That makes about as much sense to me as a parent who
says, "I am not going to give my children a bath
because I want them to get old enough to choose for
themselves to decide whether they want to be dirty or
whether they want to be clean. I am not going to
influence them in the matter of bathing."
It's kind of like if I should say to you, "Come over,
I want you to see my flower garden." I take you to my
flower garden and you look at it and you say, "Why,
preacher, that's not a flower garden; it is a lot full
of weeds." I say to you, "I'm aware that it is a lot
full of weeds right now, but I'm going to wait until
these weed ...
Proverbs for Parents
Jerry Vines
Proverbs 3:1-10
8/18/2002
I think one of the sweetest times in my life, when
Janet and I were bringing up four little ones, was at
night time. Janet would have them all bathed, in their
jammers and we would get them to their beds and get
ready to tuck them in. Then it would be time for
bedtime prayers.
Do you remember the little bedtime prayer: Now I lay
me down to sleep. I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my
soul to take. How many of you were taught that prayer
or remember that prayer as a little child? Most of you
do.
William Bennett, in his book, BOOK OF VIRTUES,
includes this little bedtime poem and he says that
President John Adams prayed this prayer every night of
his life. It is a prayer which teaches boys and girls
faith in God. It is a prayer which teaches them to put
their trust in the Lord.
Of course, it is very important for parents to teach
the lesson of trust to their boys and girls. There are
some parents who say, "I'm not going to influence my
children in those kinds of areas. I'm going to wait
until they are old enough to choose and if they choose
to have faith in God, fine. But if they choose not to
have faith in God, that is fine."
That makes about as much sense to me as a parent who
says, "I am not going to give my children a bath
because I want them to get old enough to choose for
themselves to decide whether they want to be dirty or
whether they want to be clean. I am not going to
influence them in the matter of bathing."
It's kind of like if I should say to you, "Come over,
I want you to see my flower garden." I take you to my
flower garden and you look at it and you say, "Why,
preacher, that's not a flower garden; it is a lot full
of weeds." I say to you, "I'm aware that it is a lot
full of weeds right now, but I'm going to wait until
these weed ...
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