“One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.”
—Psalm 62:11-12a
Teaching my almost two year old granddaughter to pray has been interesting and instructive. She is now programmed to pray before meals. Addi’s version goes something like this, “Goddie great; Goddie good; thank Him, for food, AMEN!” In the same way I used a celebratory clapping reward to teach her to say “Pappy,” (which she says regularly with great affection) we cheer and clap wildly after she closes each mealtime prayer with “Amen!”
Probably because of all the excitement and cheering, Addi likes to say grace several times during the meal. She puts her hands together and questioningly asks, “Pray?” Pappy is a big pushover. When I hear her pray so innocently, I cannot refuse her multiple requests even if the rest of the family is thoroughly annoyed.
At first I felt embarrassed that, as a seminary trained Bible scholar, the best I could do in teaching my grandchildren to pray is “God is great; God is good.” But when I think deeply about it, the two main things we need to know about God is God’s greatness and God’s goodness. Steven Furtick, founding pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC, writes in his book, Sun Stand Still, “If you overlook the way good and food don’t really quite rhyme…this prayer is actually a remarkably elegant summary of the character of God (97).
I didn’t realize this childlike grace paraphrases Psalm 62. “Two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.” There it is—a fortune worth of theological training summarized in a child’s prayer. God is strong (great) and God is loving (good).
We may believe that God is able to do far more than we think or imagine. God can heal, God can deliver, God can open doors, God is able, but we question whether God will do it for me: in my life, for my family and in my circumstances. Is God good? Is God loving? Jesus revealed God to us as our Heavenly Father. In teaching on prayer, Jesus says if human fathers give good gifts, “How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matt. 7:11).
Which truth about God do you struggle to believe? God’s power or God’s goodness? This simple affirmation from the mouth of babes declares both. God is able to overcome whatever challenge you are facing today. Lean upon God’s divine power. The Lord is more than able.
God's power and God's love need to be recognized as the foundation that every prayer is built on otherwise the one praying would not be able to believe that God is 1.) listening, 2.) cares, 3.) can answer and 4.) will answer. God is good, God is great is a wonderful way to learn to pray.
ReplyDeleteEphesians 3:17-20
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand as all God's people should how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
AMEN!