Pam’s little daughter, Julie, was growing up fast. She not only had learned to walk, but now she could say a few words! Now and then she even put a couple of them together to make a short sentence. Right now, though, as Julie was lifting her bright-colored orange high for her mother to peel, Pam realized there were some words Julie did not yet know.
“Do you want me to peel your orange?” Pam asked, bending down to take it from her little girl.
Quickly Julie repeated, “Peel Julie’s orange!”
After Julie had eaten her orange, she ran off to play. Part of her play was trying to put her shoes on by herself. “Me do,” she would often say, but putting on her own shoes was never easy, and even when she managed, they never felt as comfortable as when her mother put them on her. But this time something was really wrong! She could not even begin to put her foot in. Then she realized the reason! There was a knot in her shoelace as there had been other times. Running to her Mother, she lifted her shoe up high saying, “Peel Julie’s orange!” Of course, even though Julie did not have the right words to explain what she needed, her mother understood what she meant.
“Oh, you want me to take the knot out of your shoe?” Pam responded helpfully.
Isn’t that just like us when we go to God with our needs? Sometimes we don’t know what to say, but God’s Word, the Bible, tells us that His Spirit talks to God for us: “For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession [explains] for us.” Romans 8:2626Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26). God sees and understands our every need, even though, like Julie, we sometimes do not know how to tell Him. David the Psalmist said, “I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications [requests].” Psalm 116:11I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. (Psalm 116:1). Not only does He hear the words we say, but He hears the fear or unhappiness in our heart’s cry and also the praise of our heart’s thankfulness. He not only HEARS but He BENDS DOWN to listen. When parents take time to listen to their children’s little problems and joys, those children continue to go to their parents for advice as long as they live. The Psalmist says in the next verse, “Because He hath inclined [bent] His ear unto me, therefore, will I call upon Him as long as I live.” v.2.
Are you one of God’s children? To become one you only need to believe that His Son, Jesus, died on Calvary’s cross for your sins. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons [children] of God, even to them that believe on His name.” John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12). It’s just that simple. Then as one of His children you may go to Him with any question or problem, even if you can’t find the right words to say. He understands — “Thou understandest my thought afar off.” Psalm 139:22Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (Psalm 139:2). And He promises to help — “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify [praise] Me.” Psalm 50:1515And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15).
ML 05/13/1990