Let the children PRA…ISE!

Samuel worshipping at Intercessors Camp 2014

Psalm 8:2

“From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of my enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger!”

Samuel’s mother was stressed and needed a break. One Thursday afternoon we swapped abodes and children for the weekend. She took my quiet apartment in rural Manchester with 0 children and, I journeyed with her 6 children plus 1 cousin to her, oftentimes, noisy house in Kingston. I thought it was a pretty good deal for a stressed out mother. Being out of the daily mom routine for a few years, I encouraged myself, “I can do this.”

We made it uneventfully through Thursday night and Friday. After Saturday morning breakfast and chores, I heard Samuel and his cousin outside the kitchen door, close to the back of the house, singing song after song in worship to Jesus. “Jesus on the te-le-phone! Tell Him what you need! Tell Him what you need…. right now!” turned into ,“Jesus, You’re my firm foundation,” then, “I love You, Lord.”

Their praise party continued for some time raising my curiosity. A quick glimpse from the kitchen door revealed they were happily playing and worshipping under the cool shade of a mango tree. “How nice that the younger children can play so happily together” might have been my first thought, with the second one quickly following, “Now, what will we do for the rest of the day?”

It was sometime after lunch when the Lord stopped me abruptly with a firm yet greatly comforting thought, “You don’t even know what the children’s praises STOPPED!” You mean that what I thought was just a normal Saturday morning praise party was that important?

I don’t know what plans the enemy had for me and this precious family that day but God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen never to reveal to me the specific plans. I do know that the praises of a young boy and his cousin silenced the foe and the avenger for us that Saturday morning.

I have enemies. Do you have enemies? Does your church have enemies? Your pastor? Your nation? I’m sorry that most churches haven’t gotten the truth of Psalm 8:2 yet because, if we did, our times of praise and worship would look a lot different. Children would be encouraged, maybe even commanded, to worship. No one would care if the children were out of their seats dancing, jumping, clapping or singing and it would most certainly NOT be the time to hand them something to entertain themselves with the hope of keeping them quiet.

Our children’s praise and worship won’t always look or sound like adult praise and worship. Ask your children what songs they like to sing about God. Ask them which songs help them meet God and feel His presence. Then sing those songs. Encourage children to be part of the worship team. Give children something to hold in their hands – a worship flag or banner or even small rhythm instruments to help them express their praise. Value them. Value their praise. Expect them to join in during times of praise and worship. May God open our eyes to see ways to release our children in praise so it can do what God says it will do!   AMEN!

 Kathryn – WSC Rep/Jamaica