Prayer Makes Consequences More Bearable

Bekah with her friend - Misa making fish faces

When my children were little I would say to them. . . . . ‘Don’t forget to pray.’ ‘Have you prayed about that?’ ‘Pray!’ ‘You know, God can help when you pray and ask Him.’ ‘Prayer is a powerful tool.’ ‘Pray!’ ‘Why don’t we pray together?’ ‘Would you like me to pray for you?’ ‘Pray!’ Prayer was a very important thing in theirs and my life. I didn’t realize how much until one afternoon. . . . . .

Rebekah was 5 (She is soon to turn 20) she had trouble with bad words coming out of her month, probably the ‘S’ word (check earlier blog). She had been warned of what would happen if she should cross the line again.

One morning she was playing in the floor, when out of her mouth popped one of ‘those’ words. “Rebekah,” I said. She jumped with a start. “Yes Mama?” she said with eyes downcast. “You know what I said would happen the next time you used that word. Come on, we are going to my room for a spanking.” She stood slowly, dropping her doll to the floor. Her little face turned up to mine, her blue eyes sparkled with unshed tears; I knew I had to be strong. She placed her little hand in mine as we made our way to the bedroom. “Momma!” she said with such excitement that I stopped and turned to see a huge smile and twinkling eyes. “Momma, could we pray first?” “We sure can” I said. “And then we will have to get that spanking.”

After she and I prayed together, true to my word I gave my little blonde-headed imp her spanking. I think that was one the hardest things I’d ever done. Prayer didn’t change the consequences, but it made the consequences more bearable.

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”