just talkin to Jesus
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NIV
Our three and four-year-old grandsons go to a Christian pre-school. The other day we received a text message with a video of the three-year-old saying The Lord’s Prayer. With his hands folded, enunciating and carefully praying every word, he didn’t miss one! Of course, we were proud of him but there was more to it than that. Something much more important than reciting the prayer took place. He was learning to pray.
There is a song that has just been released by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music entitled “Talking to Jesus.” The first time I heard it I cried because it took me back to when I was a little girl, hearing my grandparents and parents pray.
“Praying, talking to Jesus was demonstrated over and over for me. My parents and grandparents paved the way for me to see what a relationship, a friendship with Jesus looks like. ”
Around our house, praying out loud wasn’t anything unusual. They prayed at church and at home. They prayed to bless the food. They prayed when we were sick. They prayed before we went to bed. They prayed thanking God for answered prayers, blessings, and provision. In other words, they prayed.
Obviously, even as a little girl, this affected my life. And, just like our grandson/grandchildren, I started learning to pray. In the beginning, it was “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we are fed, give us Lord our daily bread. Amen.” My prayers then grew to “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep…” You can finish that one I am sure. My prayers continued to The Lord’s Prayer and then to praying my own prayers.
“People say they can’t teach their children to pray because they don’t know how to pray, or they are afraid they won’t get it right. But guess what - I have learned that there is no wrong way to talk to a friend.”
Praying, talking to Jesus was demonstrated over and over for me. My parents and grandparents paved the way for me to see what a relationship, a friendship with Jesus looks like. You see, prayer didn’t happen just at church. Prayer happened anywhere, anytime.
Why did they pray so much? They prayed because it was and is a dialogue with a friend, the best friend you could ever have. His name is Jesus. (I.e. John 15:13)
I am grateful for my Christian heritage. Prayer has impacted my life in a way that nothing else could. But, it doesn’t stop with me. What about my children and grandchildren? What about yours? Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” It is up to us to teach our children and what better way than teaching by example.
People say they can’t teach their children to pray because they don’t know how to pray, or they are afraid they won’t get it right. But guess what - I have learned that there is no wrong way to talk to a friend. Prayer is sharing what is in your heart or on your mind. Prayer is talking to Jesus about every little thing. Prayer is laughing, crying, and pouring your soul out. But most importantly, prayer is the pathway to know Jesus. And to know Jesus is to love Jesus.
Jesus taught the disciples that their worth to God was more than the sparrows – and Jesus said that God does not forget the sparrow. Jesus then went on to say that God knows the number of hairs on each head.