You know, lately I have been struck by how much Sam needs to be needed.
He loves helping, and loves knowing that he has an important part in every family activity. He glows when he feels he is needed.
Now, this can be as simple as me letting him check off the items on our shopping list as we put them in the cart at the store... or going out of my way to play the helpless mom card and asking if there is any way he could do this for me, because I'm just not as strong as him as my big strong man.
I think I have fallen into the trap before of believing that Sam just needs to know we need him, but doesn't need to have tangible ways he can prove he's needed, to prove that he is an important part of our household, and that we depend on him.
I think as a boy who is just starting to learn that boys are different than girls, this is especially true of Sam. His father has been lately talking to him a lot about how to properly treat women, how men are to provide for their families, and work hard, and about Gods provision through everything. It's interesting to see that as Sam assimilates this teaching into his life, he naturally asks more if I've eaten(because of the baby), if I need anything, and if there's anything he can do to help.
Now, his father is the same way, and in a very practical way, Sam is picking up on this and reflecting it back. As this happens I have found that Sam seems much more at ease around the home, and that he is generally a happier child.
So please, take some time to let your child know you need them in the practical ways. Shower them with praise and let them know that they are indispensable to you. They will reflect that back with all the love and care their little hearts can muster.
Not mindlessly praying before a meal.. but rather broken supplication before our Lord God.
The Bible spends a ridiculous amount of time talking about prayer, cries for God to hear prayer, to consequences of prayer, and promises about prayer. Here's a small sampling.
Psalms 102:17
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
Matthew 17: 20-21
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Romans 12:12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
Four verses out of thousands.
Usually the rule is, if the Bible says it more than once, it's important. The Bible mentions the word prayer, just prayer, not pray or praying... 128 times.
Wow huh?
Yet this is one of the first things forgotten in the flow of everyday life, and I am just as guilty of this as the next person. Life gets busy, and you say "I'll pray later." or you just plain old don't think about it... and then suddenly you've gone the entire day without spending those moments of communion with your maker. Those precious moments that we are so privileged to get to spend at his feet.
This isn't just something to take for granted you know. This is kinda a new thing. For thousands of years, people couldn't go to God. They had to go through a priest, and even that priest only got to be in Gods presence once a year. We are so blessed to be able to go directly to God with our prayers, our praise, our wonder at his majesty.
And yet we spit on the privilege we've been given and just... forget to go.
It's like forgetting tea with the Queen of England. You just don't do that. But this is God. The supreme maker of the universe, the one who sacrificed his life for us, the one who loves us more than we could ever imagine... and he offers us the chance to commune with him everyday. Everyday. And we reject it.
Gods heart must break for us.
The power of prayer is amazing. One persons prayer can move mountains. One persons faith and trust that through prayer things can and will happen is enough that they can shake the very foundations of the world. Just one. How many people will read this post? 3? 4? If I'm lucky?
Please. Take some time to pray today. Pray for your children... and their children, and their children. Pray for your neighbors, co-workers, family. Pray for your spiritual growth, pray that God guides your path. Pray that he guides your Pastor and keeps him and his family safe. Pray for those who don't know Jesus, that someone, somewhere would be able to plant the seed in their life. Pray for our government, that God would guide them in accordance to his will. Pray that God will give you courage to speak to others about him. Pray that he will show you when to speak and when to be silent.
You can make a difference. You could be the voice that makes a difference before the mercy seat. You can be a prayer warrior.
Just take the time today to claim the privilege God has given you.
