Isn’t it funny how so often, when we’re trying to teach our kids a lesson, they teach us one too?
I realized last night, while teaching some very precious children at church, that we don’t have to have the perfect words when we pray. We don’t always have to know what we need to pray for.
As we started our lesson, I told the class that we were going to pray. One little boy spoke up and wanted to say the prayer so we all bowed our heads and closed our eyes as he prayed his prayer.
After he finished praying, I prayed. I was sitting close to a little boy who had been visiting our church for the past several weeks, and when I finished my prayer, I looked up to see his smiling face.
He is very soft spoken and shy. I asked him if he wanted to pray, expecting him to quickly shake his head no. But I was surprised when he nodded and smiled.
He quickly folded his little hands, bowed his head, and closed his eyes. We all did the same.
Then, silence…
I peeked up to see him with his hands still folded, his head still bowed, but his eyes were looking at me. He was smiling. He didn’t know HOW to pray.
So I said, “Dear God,” and he repeated.
I paused, thinking that he might have just needed help getting started, but again there was silence.
So I slowly continued, “Thank you for loving us…” Again he repeated.
I continued praying, and he repeated every word.
And you know what? God heard his prayer.
He didn’t know HOW to pray. But he had the most important part.
He had the desire.
He wanted to get close to God.
He wanted to talk to Him.
He wanted to please Him.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14
And, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15
Although I was supposed to be teaching the lesson last night, God taught me a lesson through this little boy.
We just need to be willing. We just need to want a relationship with Him. We just need to have the desire to talk to Him.
We just need to come to Him acknowledging that we don’t know what we’re doing, but we have a God who always knows what we need.
We don’t have to have the right words. God knows what we need even before we ask. Matthew 6:8
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Romans 8:26
This sweet boy was a reminder of how much God loves us. How much He wants us to seek Him.
And this sweet boy’s momma went to heaven just a few days ago.
Please pray for him and his family. Pray that the Lord will watch over them, help them, and protect them.
Amen
