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Classic Children's Literature, Four steps of Prayer, Heidi, Intercession, Johanna Spyri, Moms In Prayer International, prayer, Scripture
Aren’t memories an amazing thing? There are things we can remember vividly from many years ago. Yet if we return to a place from out associated with some memory that seems so clear, it often seems smaller or in some way diminished from the way we see it in our minds eye when we recall it.
Being aware of this tendency, I decided I should not trust my memory quite so clearly. As I was working on a talk I was to give, it called to mind one of my favorite books from childhood- Heidi by Johanna Spyri. Afraid that my memories of it might be idealized, I checked a copy out of the library and reread it recently. Only this time, instead of the memory outshining the reality, it was the other way around. While I correctly remembered the main points of the story, I had completely forgotten how clearly the little girl was encouraged and taught to trust in the Lord for all of her needs, and the childlike faith she engenders.
For example, here is how the wise grandmother counsels Heidi when she says she does not pray any more because she is not sure God heard her prayer, since he did not seem to answer.
You see, the dear Lord is a good Father to us all! He always knows what is good for us, if we do not know it. But if we want something from him that is not good for us, he does not give it to us, but something much better, if we continue to pray to him sincerely, and do not run away and lose all confidence in him. You see, what you wished to ask of him was not good for you just now; the dear Lord heard you; he can hear and see every one at the same time, because he is God and not a human being like you and me, and because he knew what was good for you, he thought to himself:-
“Yes, Heidi shall have what she asks for, but not until it is good for her, and when she will be quite happy about it. For if I should do now what she wants, and she finds afterwards that it would have been better if I had not done what she wished, then she would cry and say: ‘If only the dear Lord had not given me what I asked for! It is not so good as I thought it would be?’ And while the dear Lord was looking down to see whether you really trusted him and came to him every day and prayed when you needed anything, you have run away, no longer prayed, and quite forgotten him.”
But, you see, when one does so, and the dear Lord no longer hears his voice in prayer, he forgets him, too, and lets him go whither he will. But when one is in trouble and complains, ‘There is no one to help me!’ we feel no pity for him, but say : ’You yourself ran away from the dear Lord, who could have helped you! Do you want it to be so, Heidi, or will you go right away to the dear Lord and ask his forgiveness for having turned away from him, and then pray every day, and trust him so that everything will be made right for you, and you may have a happy heart again?”
What a lovely encouragement for our Fourth Step of Prayer. In the past few posts we have been looking at prayer and the Moms In Prayer, International method of Four Steps of Prayer. Step One begins by focusing on God and who He is and praising Him for that. (See post My Little Ray of Sunshine) As we look closely at who God is, our sin becomes more and more apparent to us. We spend time in silent confession as our next logical response to seeing our sin.(See post Corrupt Communication Issues). Remembering His undeserved, amazing grace to us in forgiving us makes us grateful and leads us to Step Three of Thanksgiving. (See post The Purple Blanket).
Now we are ready for a time of Intercession, when we come before the Almighty God of the Universe and bring our requests to Him. To intercede means to pray on someone else’s behalf, such as our families, friends and even those we don’t know. We can also make supplication to God for our own needs. But how do we know what to pray? Our gracious God gives us guidance there too. We can look to His word that He has given us and pray it back to Him.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.(Ephesians 6:16-20)
God’s word is a powerful weapon for us. And we are reminded by Paul to be using it at all times, with all prayer and all supplication. Remember the word of God is powerful enough to speak the world into being from nothing. That same power is available to us when we pray using God’s words. Think about what Jesus did when he was tempted by Satan.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.(Matthew 4:1-11)
Jesus used words of Scripture, properly understood with the Spirit’s help, to defeat Satan. This same power is available to us. And by using God’s own words, we are aligning our thinking and will with His. You can read a Psalm, and make it your prayer. Or you can take a smaller piece of Scripture and insert the name of the person you are praying for. For example, if my daughter needs to make a decision, I may pray “May ________ trust in the Lord with all her heart, and not lean on her own understanding. May _____ acknowledge You in all her ways, and may you make her paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) From that springboard, I can add my specific requests about what I want the outcome to be, but I have been led to acknowledge that what I ultimately want for her is for her to follow God’s way. And I understand that that may not be my way.
Praying scripture like this brings us peace and rest, because God promises that His word will not return void. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
Soli Deo Gloria,
Diane