WATCHWORD:
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:1-5
Meditation:
Dear Santa Claws
She handed me the envelope saying, please mail this for me. it was addressed to “Santa Claws” and I noted it was unsealed, just in case I wanted an idea or two. That little girl is on the verge of truly doubting about Santa Clause, but isn’t sure yet.
I pulled out the piece of yellow lined paper torn from her notebook, and read the letter, written in pencil: “Dear Santa Claws, here are a few ideas in case you are wondering. Pick just one you think I will really like, or maybe two. Enjoy the cookies, I helped make them.” she added her name, and below were some 15 or so suggestions for Christmas. At the very bottom she had written “please turn over” and on the back were five more suggestions. She signed her name and added XXs and OOs.
I stood there smiling, holding the envelope, and a verse from Matthew came to me, “…unless you… come as little children”. I started to dismiss the thought but instead I asked myself, “How do I come to Him?” Do I come as a little child, with the honesty and the audacity of a child, or am I apologetic, even apathetic, during those times when we pray to the Lord? I wondered.
How is your prayer life? Is it like a shopping list and you hope God will pick one? Another thought comes to mind: Do I even know how to ask? Or, what I should ask for?
Coming back from the grocery store, my radio was playing a song by Garth Brooks called Unanswered Prayers. It’s an interesting ballad that tells the story of a prayer offered by a young man for one thing and then, later in life, he realized that he had received something better. His prayer was answered, just not the way he asked.
In his teaching about prayer our Lord never referred to unanswered prayers. He actually said God always answers prayer if our prayers are in the name of Jesus or within the will of God. Too often our prayers are offered with great detail about what we expect in God’s answer. But God’s answer will not be in line with our ask so much as within His nature.
I’m not sure how seriously we take our prayer life. Think about this, Jesus never promised to be at every prayer gathering, you, by yourself or in a group, but only those times when the gathering together is in His name. You know, “We gather in Your name, Lord…”
It has been said that there are no atheists in foxholes. I remember a moment in Osaka, Japan, when I was handed a bandolier of ammunition for my M1 rifle on my way to Korea. I was scared kid, but not too scared to pray for a little help from God.
That is how we do it, isn’t it? We turn to God when there is nowhere else to turn. Is it only when we know we are powerless that we are prepared to listen to Jesus Christ and to do what he says? Tell me, how is that like “coming as a little child?”
What is on your “Dear Santa Claws” list? Do you come innocent and trusting as a child before the Lord?”
Saturday Watchword: Picking on Your Habits!
There will be a Watchword this coming Saturday. Do you have a habit? How did you develop it? For good, or not? Don’t forget… Saturday. –Stan
Crosswalk Daily Prayer:
Lord, I bow my heart before You and give You honor and praise. Oh God, strengthen my prayer life. Help me to pray more. Nudge me to pray when I’m doing mindless tasks. Help me to truly know who I am in Christ, to understand that You always hear me, to know Your Word so I can pray it, to write down my own prayer needs and the needs of others, and to know that You really do know me. In the strong name of Jesus, Amen.
