Mark Batterson - The Circle Maker for Kids

Dedicated to my childrens children. You were prayed for long before you got here. MB To the memory of Jean Moebius Giraud, the path maker. AJC ZONDERKIDZ The Circle Maker for Kids
Copyright 2013 by Mark Batterson
Illustrations 2013 by Antonio Javier Caparo
Published in association with the literary agency of Fedd & Company Inc.,
P.O. Box 341973, Austin, Texas 78734 Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, 5300 Patterson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Batterson, Mark.
The circle maker for kids : one prayer can change everything / Mark Batterson
pages cm
eISBN 978-0-310-73641-7. 1.

PrayerChristianityJuvenile
literature. 2. Honi, ha-Meaggel, 1st cent. B.C.Juvenile literature. I. Title.
BV212.B38 2013 248.3'2dc23 20120401681 All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Zonderkidz is a trademark of Zondervan. Editor: Barbara Herndon
Art direction and design: Kris Nelson

N othing touches the heart of God more than childlike faith. Thats why a childs
prayer is so special, so powerful. Children dont know what cant be done. Thats why, when I need a miracle,
I have my children pray with me.

God has answered many of those prayers in miraculous ways! Prayer is our greatest privilege and our most lasting legacy as parents. Youll never be a perfect parent, but you can be
a praying parent. Prayer turns ordinary parents into prophets who shape the destinies of their children, grandchildren,
and every generation that follows. But if all you do is pray for your children, youve neglected half of your responsibility.
You must also teach your children to pray for themselves. Thats what The Circle Maker for Kids is all about. This book will give children an unforgettable picture of the power of prayer.

It will lay a foundation of faith that
God is able to do more than anything we can ask or imagine. And it will teach a lesson that will never be forgotten:
God honors bold prayers because bold prayers honor God. Keep circling,
Mark Batterson Lord, teach us to pray. LUKE 11:1

It had
not rained
in Israel for one entire year. No clouds in the sky.
No water in the well.

Dust filled the air.

Dust filled the air.

The people were
thirsty and scared. They pleaded with one voice,
O God, give us rain! But when God didnt answer right away,
they lost faith. Our prayers are not working!
the people said. God has forgotten us! Then they remembered something,
remembered someone.

The rainmaker.

Honi was now
an old man, living on the
outskirts of Jerusalem.

Honi was now
an old man, living on the
outskirts of Jerusalem.

The people knew that he was their
last hope, their only hope. So they
knocked on his door, and the
rainmaker emerged.

Honi
believed
that even if the people could not hear God, God could still hear them. Then he boldly declared, The same God who
made the thunder will make it clap. The same God who made the clouds will
make them rain.

A parade of
people led Honi into the
city, to the Temple mount.

As the
crowd grew, children climbed onto
the shoulders of their fathers.
Others stood on tiptoe to
see what Honi would do. Thats
when it
happened.

Honi bowed his head
and extended his staff
to the ground. What is he doing?
the people wondered. Then Honi began to turn.
He turned all the way around
until he stood inside the circle he had drawn.

Then,
with the hope of the entire nation on
his shoulders, Honi dropped
to his knees and prayed.

Sovereign Lord,
I swear before Your
Great Name that I will not leave
this circle until you send rain. Like water
from a well, the words flowed from the depths of his soul. The people watched
and waited.