For Kids · 3 min with a grown-up
Psalm 141 is an evening prayer. As the day was ending, King David asked God to help him say kind things and do what is right.
Today's Story
The sun was going down, and King David knelt to pray.
“Lord, please listen to me,” he said. “Let my prayer float up to You like sweet-smelling smoke rising into the sky. Let my hands lifted up to You be like a gift.”
Then David asked for something he really needed help with - his words. “God, put a guard at my mouth, like a guard standing watch at a door. Help me think before I speak, so I do not say mean or grumpy things.”
David did not want to do wrong things either. “Don't let my heart start wanting bad stuff,” he prayed. He even said something surprising: “If a good friend points out where I am wrong, that is okay. It is like a kind helping hand. I would rather hear the truth from a friend than be cheered on while doing wrong.”
And David finished by looking right at God. “My eyes are on You, Lord. I am trusting You to keep me safe.” Then he went to sleep, his prayer floating up to God.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- Was it hard to say something kind today, or easy? Tell about a time your words made someone smile - or a time you wish you had stopped them.
- David asked God to be a “guard” at his mouth. What is one kind of word you would like God to help you stop before it comes out?
- David said it is okay when a good friend points out where we are wrong. Why is it actually a kind thing for a friend to do?