April 29, 2005

[Rev. Doc]

The Prayer Of A Child

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:7

One morning, Nancee Donavan's second-grade daughter, Rebecca Lynn, was supposed to bring cookies for the class treat.* But Nancee had gotten a late start baking, and the cookies weren't ready to take on the school bus.* "I'll finish them, and drop them off at school 'way before lunch," Nancee promised. Rebecca Lynn was not happy about this, but she kissed her mom good-bye, and got on the bus.

In an hour or so, the cookies were ready.* Nancee's husband went out to start the car, as Nancee dressed the three-year-old, Jerry Jay.* But she didn't hear anything.* Looking out, she realized that the car's engine wasn't turning over. After about fifteen minutes, her husband came back.* "The car's dead," he said.* "I've tried everything but it won't start."

"What are we going to do now?" Nancy wondered aloud.* "Rebecca Lynn is going to be so disappointed."

Little Jerry Jay looked up.* "We could pray!" he suggested, his eyes bright. The adults looked at him.* "Well." Nancee began. But Jerry was already on his knees.* "Please, God, make the car start!" he prayed.

Nancee's husband smiled.* "I guess I'd better try it again."* He went out, turned the ignition key--and the engine sprang to life.* Astonished--and before the car could change its mind!---Nancee and Jerry jumped in, and they sped to school.* Nancee's husband kept the engine idling, as Nancee and Jerry brought the cookies to a delighted Rebecca Lynn, then ran back to the car.* Next stop, the mechanic.* He would be back in a few moments, they were told, so they sat down to wait.

Soon the mechanic returned, opened the hood and looked at the car.* "Who towed this in?" he asked.

"No one," Nancee's husband replied. "We drove it here."

The mechanic shook his head.* "You couldn't have done that. The battery is completely dead.* It's ice cold."

The adults looked at each other.* What a Father they served, One who cared about every detail of their lives!* And what a lesson to remember, that God loves to give His children good things.* Even the littlest ones.* "I have told many people about our miracle," Nancee says.* "The prayers of children are amazing."

Prayer: Ask the Lord to give you the faith of a child and a prayer life to match.

"The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer fetched the angel."
~Thomas Watson