06/25/21 CHILDREN’S BLESSING — “God is great; God is good. And we thank Him for our food. By His hands we all are fed. Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen.”

Years ago our pastor came to dinner at our home. One of our elementary-aged sons had just been baptized. I asked him to say the blessing before we ate. I was surprised when he prayed the familiar children’s blessing above. At the time I was even a little embarrassed—I had thought he was a little more mature than that.

Fast forward a few years. In a seminary theology class I was required to come up with a few of my own “catechisms.” I immediately thought of that blessing. Each of its segments has abundant support in God’s Word:

Psalm 70:4 (ESV) May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”

Psalm 119:68 (ESV) You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

Psalm 81:10 (ESV) I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Luke 11:3 (ESV) Give us each day our daily bread… (also Matthew 6:11)

PRAISE THE LORD for this familiar blessing, so simple young children can recite and understand it!