For kids! Day 6 of Christmas Prayer- Jesus is the Light!

Let’s play a game! Parents, get a small treat or gift to hide in a dark room, one for each child. Also, hide a flashlight somewhere in the room, but out in the open where they will be able to find it by feeling around. If they are really small, show them how to turn on the flashlight with their eyes closed, since they will be looking in the dark.

GAME #1

Turn the light off in the room you will be searching. Assure your small children that you will be in the room with them. Explain the rules.

1. Daddy and Mommy hid a treat for you in the room.
2. The lights are out, so it’s like hide and go seek.
3. There is a flashlight in the room somewhere, so when you find it, you can use it to look for your treat. It will be hidden somewhere that is harder to find than the flashlight.
4. If you have trouble, Dad and/or Mom will use the words hot and cold to help you find the flashlight.
5. After we play the game, before you enjoy the treat, we will play hide and seek with a Bible verse and pray. Then we will open/enjoy our treats!

For after the game:

Was that fun? Was it hard to find the treat or flashlight in the dark? Did you feel scared at all? What helped you find the flashlight? Did Dad/Mom’s voice help? 

Wasn’t it easier to find the treats with a flashlight? 

God created the world out of love. He loves us. He created the first man and the first woman, Adam and Eve for a relationship with him. But, they sinned and the world was plunged into darkness. 

Sin keeps us from being able to see God. It’s impossible to live in the the freedom and the gifts God wants to give us when we walk in the darkness of sin. 

GAME #2 

Blindfold each child and let them feel in a bag and identify various objects. Make it difficult enough that they have a hard time knowing what most of the objects are.

Ask them, “Was it harder or easier to identify the objects without looking?”

When we walk in sin, we cannot see God. Sin separates us from God. 

God is light. At Christmas we celebrate his light coming into the world through Jesus Christ his Son. Jesus is the perfect light. He shines into our darkness. When he died on the cross, he removed the power of the sin or bad things we do. He forgives us, when we turn from our sin and believe on him. 

Remember the first game? What do you think represented Jesus? (flashlight)

What do you think the treat represented? (God’s gift of eternal life.)

We cannot have eternal life, unless we have Jesus. So, it was so very loving of God to send his only Son Jesus to die on the cross to give us eternal life. 

LAST GAME: Bible verse hide and go seek. 

Let’s find the words that remind us of God’s gift of light and hope! When we read this, raise your hand and say, “HOPE!” when you hear one of these words:

1. Light
2. Darkness
3. Joy
4. People
5. Peace
6. Child
7. Forever

Isaiah 9

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest…

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

PRAYER: (You can have everyone “pray after you” (echo your sentences) as you read the prayer or you can take turns praying. You can use this prayer as a guideline or read it aloud, as God hears words we speak from our hearts, even if they are words someone else wrote that you agree with.)

Let’s thank God for his light. Let’s ask him to bring his light to any places in our hearts that are dark. Let’s pray for those who are in darkness, that the light of Christ will come to them.

“Father in Jesus name, thank you for the light of Jesus. Thank you that his light shines in our darkness and forgives our sins. We repent of sin in our hearts and ask for you to forgive us.”

“Father, increase our joy in Jesus.”

“Father, help those living in deep darkness. (You can pray for people specifically by name.) Help _____ to see the light of Jesus. Shine in _____’s heart. Use me to be a light for Jesus.”

“Father, in Jesus name, you sent Jesus to save the world. Save all the children and moms and dads and hurting people in the world. Turn those living in darkness to the light. Today, Lord Jesus, send out the truth of your light all around us. Shine out, Lord Jesus!”

“Jesus, you are the Wonderful, Counselor. Give me good counsel, when I am confused and need help.”

“God you said the government would be on Jesus’s shoulders. Please help those leading in government in our nation, state and community. (You can name leaders specifically.)Give them wisdom to walk in the light and to govern with truth. Please remove people from leadership who would do evil and harm. Please give us people in leadership who will follow you and the truth, in Jesus name.”

“Build your kingdom of truth and light in our family, Jesus!”

Amen!