There is nothing quite so startling as tiny cold fingers poking you out of deep sleep coupled with the repetitious phrase, “Mom, Mom? Are you awake? I’m scared!” Whether they are daytime fears of calamity or the nighttime fears of the unknown and separation, childhood fears are common, and everyone seems to have an opinion on them and how to deal with them. To be sure, many childhood fears are specific to circumstances. For example, we live in Colorado, and at the time of this writing, we are watching a wildfire burn on a ridge about thirty miles from us, as the crow flies. We often want to quiet these fears directly, to come at them head-on, and while that might work for a short time, it is a Band-Aid solution instead of a deep healing for the disease of fear. 

When we stop and reflect on our fears, we find them rooted in our ignorance of God’s great love for us and our place in his kingdom. As children grow through the different developmental stages, they are increasingly engaging in their own dominion. While this is exhilarating, with freedom comes fear. It is a scary world, indeed, if I am my only protector and there is no rhyme or reason to my dominion. However, there is a great gift to this divine wiring; it is in childhood that we form our foundation for trust. This foundation is formed in our spirits, minds, bodies, and souls. Keeping in mind Dallas Willard’s idea of the spiritual disciplines as a means of doing indirectly what we cannot do directly, we seek to shape our knowledge of God by the most prominent image of himself—Protector. Informing a child’s knowledge of a good, Protector God is a substantial step in battling fear. 

David, in the Psalms, told of many experiences with this Protector God. He lived this reality in his mind, body, spirit, and soul. Indirectly we deal fear a death blow when the spirit is formed by the loving care of a Protector God. With children we can engage in this discipline by experiencing the Psalms with our bodies. Children experience the world with their bodies; they gather experiences through their senses, and those form their spirit. 

Every child can know Psalm 23 in all their parts. Gather your children around and try praying this paraphrase of Psalm 23 with your bodies. Remember that repetition is a wonderful teacher; try it every day until you can all pray it by memory. 

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01.  PRAYING PSALM 23 WITH KIDS 

PRAYING PSALM 23 WITH KIDS 

Say: “The Lord is my Shepherd.” 

Stand erect with your feet shoulder-length apart and arms stretched 

to the sky. 

 

Say: “I have everything I need.” 

Lower your arms into a basket like you are catching gifts from heaven. 

 

Say: “He helps me to rest when I am tired.” 

Curl up on the floor in a fetal position; pause here at least a minute. 

 

Say: “He gives water to my heart and to my body.” 

Sit up with crossed legs, cup your hands, and receive water from heaven and pour it into your heart; then receive some more water from heaven and pour it into your mouth. 

 

Say: “He leads me on a safe path, because God loves me.” 

Stand and move into a line, linking arms. 

 

Say: “When I am afraid, I can reach out and touch God, because he is with me.” 

Continue to stand, linking arms in a circle, hugging each other from the side. 

 

Say: “God will protect me and comfort me.” 

Lift your arms to heaven; pause, then lower them into a self-hug. 

 

Say: “God has given me so much, I can share with others.” 

Sit crossing your legs; cup your hands and scoop love from your heart; pour that love out on those around you. 

 

Say: “God is good to me and gives me extra chances.” 

Lay with your back on the floor and imagine one goodness from God; hold it in your mind. 

 

Say: “I get to live with God forever.” 

Close your eyes and imagine living in a house with God. Stay here for as long as you can stand it.