I’ve found that if you get into the habit, bed times can be pretty rough….. Laced with “I need more water!”, “Please read another book”, “Please sing ____ song”, “I need this light on, this light off”, “I’m not tired”, “Why didn’t we get to do this today?” wah wah wah

We recently went through a period of that, and what bothered me the most was my girls going to bed not thinking good and thankful thoughts – but rather negative and ungrateful thoughts. So, I decided to implement a new bed time habit, and it’s been working great!

Since, in my experience, our thought patterns follow our actions and/or words – I decided the girls needed some good songs to have memorized (or atleast very familiar with) to fall back on and remind them of goodness and truth. And they needed some good “mind filling” right before bedtime to direct their thoughts.

So, every Sunday I’ve picked a new song to sing them for an entire week. I print out the lyrics, explain some of the advanced vocabulary words as we go, and act it out for them! We end up singing it once or twice at night, and sometimes repeating verses. I used to sing them songs before bed and during the day, just not every single night, and not on-purpose. This teaching one song every week, on purpose, has made all the difference.

Since we’ve been doing this, there has been NO complaining words before bed – I’m amazed! Their vocabulary is also increasing, and they are learning. Here are two songs I’ve used successfully and the girls LOVE it!

Count Your Blessings
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprised you what the Lord hath done.

Chorus:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
(Chorus)

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings.
Wealth can never buy your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
(Chorus)

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
(Chorus)

Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word
What glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

chorus:
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
(chorus)

But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
(chorus)

Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go,
Never fear only trust and obey.
(chorus)

Oh, and I am NOT a singer or talented in this area, if I can do it, anyone can. Seriously.

Do you have any great teaching songs? I’m looking for songs of all kind, not just hymns.

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