I love it when my grandsons come to visit. Their joy for life and energy always breathe new life into my soul. But the most special part of the day is when I pray with them before bed.
Their ages are two and a half and six and a half. I always start the prayers, and they interject when something comes to their minds. It may be praying for their cat, or their teacher, or it may be the six-year-old asking God to let him hit the baseball better, or learn to ride his bicycle better. But I always let them pray their sweet, innocent prayers, with me telling them their prayers are very important to God.
What happens when children pray? The heavenly Father hears them and moves quickly to answer in His own way. Mark 10:14 says,
“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them NOT: for of such is the Kingdom of God.” (emphasis mine)
Why is it that the prayer of a little child is so powerful? It is because they are so innocent, and God willingly hears the prayers of an innocent heart and acts upon them. When our Savior was on Earth, He loved the little children and would touch their heads and bless them.
As many of you know, my sister has taught dance her entire life. She had two groups called Cloggers for Christ that would perform to Christian music at various churches. Both groups were sweet Christian girls, but when the younger group (ages 8-12) found out I had leukemia, they asked my sister if they could pray for me every week before rehearsal. Bobbi Dale (my sister) told me of their fervent prayers and their pleadings to God to save my life.
I know God heard the prayers of those innocent hearts pleading for my healing every week. The following dance season (after a year of chemo and my transplant), I was able to meet those young ladies and thank them. I was greeted with hugs and tears, and was able to share with them that God heard their prayers and answered them! I assured them their prayers were powerful!
So let us be like innocent children. Cleanse our hearts and minds and come before God sinless, like little children. Lie before God, praise Him uninhibited, profess His greatness and love Him like the little child professes in vacation Bible school this time of year! Pray like children!
Jeri Lynn Daniel
Lean into Jesus Ministries
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