The Children For Christ by Andrew Murray

children are old enough, gather them too, and ask if they will not join in
the holy covenant, 'We will serve the Lord.' Let that covenant from time
to time be renewed in a distinct act of consecration, that the conviction
may be confirmed: We do want to be a holy family, a house where God
doth dwell and is well pleased. Ours must be a home wholly consecrated
to God. And be not afraid that strength will not be given to keep the
vow. It is not we who have to do the work, and then bring it to God. It is
with the Father in heaven, calling and helping and tenderly working
both to will and to do in us, that we have to work. We may count upon
Him as the inspirer, to accept and confirm, and Himself carry out the
purpose of our heart, 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.'
O Lord my God! I thank Thee for what I have seen this day, Thy servant
Joshua, the leader of Thy people Israel into Canaan, in his faithfulness
to Thee as father in his own home. I humbly ask Thee to give me grace to
say as distinctly and as publicly as he did, 'As for me and my house, we
will serve the Lord.'
Lord! may mine be a personal religion. O my Father! let Thy love to me,
and my love to Thee, be its inspiration and its joy. May my children see
that it is with my whole heart I serve Thee, that it has become a delight
and my very nature.
And may mine be a family religion, exercising its influence on my
home, gaining and training all to walk with me. Lord! remove every
inconsistency and all weakness that might hinder any one from being
wholly Thine. May mine be a truly consecrated home.
May mine, too, be a practical religion, serving Thee day and night. Let
the knowing and the doing of God's will, the working for His kingdom,
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