Prayers

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“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” 1 John 5:14 (NIV).

“Dear God, thank You for the baby brother but what I prayed for was a puppy.” I laughed when I came across this child’s prayer while searching a website recently.

Do you think this child has grasped a truth about prayer? She prayed openly and honestly about what was on her heart. She wasn’t concerned about following certain prayer rules or praying “right.” She was confident that God had heard her prayers, even if He hadn’t answered them the way she wanted. She knows prayer is simply talking to God.

With heads bowed and hands folded, several second graders at a local elementary school were praying in their classroom. When the teacher inquired about their prayers, the children replied, “We’re praying for a friend who is having surgery at 10:45 this morning.”

The teacher responded by praying for the child also. Sharing this story, the teacher said, “I looked up at the clock after praying and the time was 10:45.”

Most children are naturally open and aren’t afraid to ask questions. Maybe that’s why it’s important that they have an understanding of prayer at a young age. They can talk to God anywhere at any time about anything, just like these seven-year-olds were praying for their friend.

I love to hear my grandchildren pray before we eat. Their prayers are simple and sincere. My youngest grandson, who is three, not only prays for the food but he thanks God for his puppy and his pony. Sometimes, he also thanks God for all of his family members, calling them all by name.

Adults can learn a lot from children when it comes to prayer. Children have strong faith. They trust easily, especially their parents. Why can’t we trust in our Heavenly Father like that?

Clergyman and author, E.M. Bounds wrote, “I think Christians fail so often to get answers to their prayers because they do not wait long enough on God. They just drop down and say a few words, and then jump up and forget it and expect God to answer them. Such praying always reminds me of the small boy ringing his neighbor’s doorbell, and then running away as fast as he can go.”

Do you spend so much time doing everything else that you have no time left for God? No time left to pray?

Author and Christian minister, George MacDonald, once said, “How often we look upon God as our last and feeblest resource! We go to Him because we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven.”

God is our haven, an ever-present help in trouble. He asks us to bring our concerns to Him in prayer and He will act upon it according to His will. Coming to Him with a sincere heart, we leave with a peace that defies circumstances.

Please feel free to respond to this post by emailing me at [email protected].

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