The simple faith of a child's prayer...

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THE FAITH OF A CHILD'S PRAYERS

Testiment Submitted by T. S. 

Foundational Scripture:  'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24) 

This  is a story written by a doctor who worked in Africa.  One night I had  worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of  all we  could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying   two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive;  as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We  also had no special feeding facilities. 

Although we lived on the equator, nights  were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for  the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would  be wrapped in.  Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water  bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the  bottle, it had burst (rubber  perishes easily in tropical climates)..   'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. 

As in the West, it is no good crying over  spilled milk, so in    Central Africa   it might be considered no good  crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there  are no drugstores down forest pathways.  'All right,' I said, 'put the  baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and  the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep  the baby  warm.'

A PRAYER REQUEST

The following noon, as I did most days, I went  to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather  with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray  about and told them about the tiny baby.  I explained our problem about  keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that  the baby could so easily die if it got chills.  I also told them of the  two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten -year-old  girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African  children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today-  It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send  it this afternoon.' While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the  prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a  dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?' 

As often with children's prayers, I was  put on the spot. Could I honestly say  'Amen?' I just did not believe  that God could do this.  Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the  Bible says so. But there are  limits, aren't there? The only way God  could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from  the homeland.  I had been in  Africa  for almost  four years at that  time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.  Anyway, if  anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle?  I   lived on the equator! 

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was  teaching in the nurses' training  school, a message was sent that there  was a car at my front door.  By the time I  reached home, the car had  gone, but there on the veranda was a large 22-pound  parcel. I felt  tears pricking my eyes.  I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent  for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string,  carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to  tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of  eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.  

From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored,  knitted jerseys.  Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the  knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a  little bored..  Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that  would make a batch of buns for the weekend.   Then, as I put my hand in  again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it  out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked  God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.  Ruth was in  the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If  God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'

Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she  pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had  never doubted!  Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you  and give this dolly to that  little girl, so she'll know that Jesus  really loves her?'  'Of course,' I replied!  That parcel had been on the  way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class,  whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a  hot water  bottle, even to the equator.  And one of the girls had put in a dolly  for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing  prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.' 

 'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24) 

Prayer  is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot  of  rewards.  Let's continue praying for one another.  And by faith,  believe God can answer our prayers!

Heavenly Father, 

I ask you to bless my friends reading this. I ask You to minister to their spirit. 

Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy.  

Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them.  

Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding,  guidance, and strength. 

Where there is fear, reveal Your love and  release to them Your courage.. 

Bless their finances, give them greater  vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. 

 I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name.

 Amen 

Copyright - 2010-2022, Synthia Esther.  All Rights Reserved.