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Psalm 92:1-4 – It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Host High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. (NIV)
It was a lovely day with a good breeze blowing, and our seven-year-old son decided to try to fly his new kite. After he got it aloft and felt the tug of the kite, it suddenly broke free and disappeared over the rooftops in our suburban neighbourhood. Our son ran into the house very upset, and it was suggested that he ask God for help to find it. We decided to drive around to see if we could locate it. In the next block over, we came upon a man in his yard with the kite in his hand. Our son eagerly jumped out of the car to claim it, and thanked the man for rescuing it. When returning home, I observed our son at the old upright piano where he began to press a few piano keys until he had a pattern of notes. He then got a piece of paper and wrote down these simple words: "Jesus answered my prayer, and I love Him!". Later, he showed me the paper and played the notes. It was his simple thanksgiving psalm! It was his natural and spontaneous joyful response.
This memory has stayed with me through many years. I often think of it when I realize that God has heard my prayers, and I think about how He has answered. Sometimes, it is a quick and direct answer to a simple prayer, and sometimes, it is a different answer than I expected to an oft-repeated prayer that was not quickly answered. I am filled with praise for His love and His faithfulness each time. I want to lift my voice and sing. No longer is there a piano in the house on which to compose a worship song spontaneously, but the simple song of "Jesus answered my prayer, and I love Him!" still echoes in my mind. Isn't it wonderful that God made us with the human need to express our praise when we see that God has acted upon our request or when we see what He has done!
More recently, I've become convinced of the fact that I need to thank and praise Him in advance for all that I do not see yet of God's faithful actions. He is at work behind the scenes constantly. He never slumbers or sleeps.
John 5:17 – Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." (NIV)
Prayer: Our gracious heavenly Father, we are amazed to see the ways in which You reveal Your love for us. Help us to be alert to recognize Your constant activities for us and in us and through us. Help us to respond quickly with our thanks and praise. Amen.
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Beautiful!
Thanks for the good reminder, Sharon.
Thank you, Sharon, for this beautiful devotion.
What a beautiful story, Sharon. Thanks and God bless!
Thank you, Sharon, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Blessings.
Excellent, S-I-L! You used a great illustration and tied it up with an apropos application. Keep it up!
Dear Sharon,
Thanks so much for that example of how much we can learn from our children.
God bless you.
Thank you. Your story brought tears to my eyes… and a reminder that I should spend more time thanking God for what He does for me, even when I don’t always see how He is working.
(ON)
Dear Sharon,
I want to thank you for your absolutely wonderful Devotional this morning. I want to thank your son as well. What joy and thanksgiving straight from his little heart! Such good advice too! Thank and praise in advance!
Blessings, Joy, and Laughter,
(Canada)
Hello Sharon,
Yes, we sometimes can be truly amazed at the answers we get to our prayers. Our loving Lord cares for us in so many ways and is so deserving of our gratitude and praise at all times.
Thank you for your writing of this devotional and that sweet memory of your son’s experience of answered prayer and his special response in giving thanks to the Lord.
Oh my – this is SO precious. You showed the child by doing … you SHARED YOUR FAITH and YOU MODELED IT. How I wish more people understood this principle – that ‘sharing’ and ‘modeling’ are so much more effective than ‘telling’ or attempting to ‘ demand’. I LOVE your story, not just your own awesome and simple action, but the so, so precious response of the little one. Thank you for sharing such REAL-LIFE witnessing.
Good morning Sharon,
What a lovely gesture that your son at seven made to God and that it has remained with you as a way of thanking God to this day. Children can be so inventive and spontaneous. I am sure this memory has probably also stayed with your son.
You are so right that it is important to thank God for what he is doing in our lives even when we cannot see it. He wants the best for us and enjoys when we sing our praises to him even if we are not the best singers – still sing.
Thank you for sharing this story and for continuing to provide your thoughts to us all so that we can learn and increase our faith. May you have many more good memories and blessings.
Dear Sharon:
Thank you so much for your wonderful devotional!
It brought a precious memory to my mind. Over twenty years ago, my then three-and-a-half-year-old grandson, came to visit and was super excited to sing a song he had learned.
I gave him a hug and the go-ahead. Completely off tune, he sang: “I’m a blood bought born again child of the King! I been baptized, sanctified and this is why I sing! I’m so glad Jesus came, gory (glory) to His name, I’m a child of the King!” His joy and smile were as wide as his little face!
I asked him if he knew what all those big words mean.
He replied with joy and enthusiasm, “Yes! Nana. They mean I invited Jesus to live forever in my heart and He’s right here! Daddy told me how to do it!” He patted his little chest.
I thank God that I had the foresight to grab my recorder. Now, many years later, I still listen to that conversation and glory in our Lord!
Even better is the fact that he and his sister still walk with Jesus!
I always enjoy the PresbyCan devotionals.
Keep writing for Him!
Blessings.
Dear Sharon,
Your Beautiful Devotion echoes how personal God is with us. Even a Child can see it. Oh, that others, who are in their later years, will finally have their spiritual eyes opened, so they can see and appreciate Him too.