“Mom, can we pray for them right now?”
Normally I get on to my kids for interrupting me, but this time was different. I found myself so grateful that my 11-year old son interjected this idea into our conversation.
As I was sharing a funny story I’d heard on the radio earlier that day, an ambulance came screaming by us at the stop light. I didn’t skip a beat.
But Sam stopped me, suggesting we pray right then for those needing this kind of emergency help. “Mom, they need the comfort and peace of Jesus now.”
And before I could open my mouth and ask God to supply those injured people with Sam’s suggestions, my son began to call out to God himself. I was in awe. I watched him in the rear view mirror with tears in my eyes.
I realized at that moment that my son’s default button is prayer.
Looking back, I see that truth played out so many times.
I remember seeing him closing his eyes on the football field before the ball was snapped, begging for the first down.
I’ve heard him asking for courage as he walked down the stairs into our dark basement.
He’s offered to pray over me as I’ve walked out the door to speak at a church event.
Sam’s requested God’s healing time and time again when dad tore his ACL.
My son knows the power of prayer. He knows the authority it has for believers. He understands that God listens 24/7/365. Sam believes that when we prays, he is a force to be reckoned with… because he is accessing the power of Jesus…
…Do you?
So often, we strive for results. We hope for a good outcome. We wish for good to prevail.
But we don’t pray for it.
Instead, we find ourselves stressed out, scared, frustrated and worried. We pace the floor or try to talk it out with our friends, looking for their suggestions. We look to self-help books. We watch Dr. Phil or read tomorrow’s horoscope.
What if we decided to try it my son’s way…
…God’s way?
“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.” (Philippians 4:6)
The result?
The peace of Jesus. The assurance His plans are to prosper you. The belief that God is who He says He is, and will do what He says He’ll do.
So friends, when life gets big… when circumstances get scary… when you are at a loss… when others need help… when you don’t know what to do next…
What if you took God up on His offer and… prayed?
What if prayer became YOUR default button?
