This Little Girl Believed, Do You Believe?

Going to church was never an option as a child.  I grew up listening to the “Old Time Religion” every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night.  Church was where I belonged and felt the most connected to the presence of the Lord, even as a small child.  My mother has told me many times that I practically went to every alter call they had.  I would pray, cry and praise the Lord…and she believed I would do great things someday.  And this little girl believed.  “Then the people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them.  But the disciples rebuked them.  14) Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:13-14

The Presence of the Lord

How does one explain the presence of the Lord?  It is hard enough as an adult to explain, but thinking back to my little self I would describe it as this; a beautiful warm bright glow around me like sunshine.  The kind of sunshine that just warms your body warms your heart and brings such lovely peacefulness to the mind.  Sometimes I couldn’t wait for the sermon to end so that I could have that personal time with my Jesus.  As a child, it never really dawned on me that there was a bigger picture until I got a tad bit older.  Many times the tiny hairs across my forearm would stand at attention and I would feel a “swoosh” all over, so of course I went down to the altar all the time!  I was just a youngster, and that was the beginning of my personal relationship with God.

Prayed to God

Seven years old is when I experienced a true miracle…one I prayed for three times!  This little girl believed that when she prayed to God, He was going to answer her prayers…and He did.  My father is an Okie, is an Okie, and is an Okie!  He can fix anything with electrical tape.  And what else does Okie’s do?  That’s right, go barefooted.  One day I noticed a huge knot on the side of my dad’s foot.  It was huge, or least to this little girl that believed it was.  Daddy told me that it was just a big bone that did not hurt, but that didn’t calm me down.  Bone I thought?  Well no one else in the family had the ugly thing on their foot and I knew it just wasn’t meant to be there, so at 7 years old; the little girl that believed made a request to the Lord. “Please take that ugly bone of my daddy’s foot Jesus.”  The next morning when I woke up I ran to my dad and looked at his foot to see if the bone was still there, and it was.  As I looked up to my dad he simply said “sometimes it takes more than one prayer Tammy Jo.”

God's Timing

Being a child of God, I had no doubt that my dad was right…I knew at that very young age that God would answer my prayers and that bone growth would disappear…I just expected God to answer my prayers the minute I asked.  That little girl that believed knew that the miracle would happen, but that same little girl didn’t understand about God’s timing.  “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4) Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of the child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2-4 Do you believe?

Faith as a Child

Continuing the next night in prayer for my dad’s bone growth to be removed by God, I reminded God that he promised if we prayed to Him that he would answer those prayers, and I also told Him that my dad said it would be in His time…but could He please hurry!  Second morning I again ran to my dad and looked at his foot just as I did the day before.  That bone growth was still there.  I knew at that moment without a doubt that my prayers were heard and would be answered.  My heart trusted our Lord Jesus and there was never a doubting moment in the little girl who believes mind. God was going to perform that miracle she was asking for.  Although that little girl was a child…she had “Faith as a child” that perfectly beautiful faith without doubt!

The Miracle

On the third morning the little girl who believed was woken up by her dad and when that little girl looked at her dad’s foot, the miracle she had prayed for three nights in a row was completed by her loving Savior!  That bone growth was gone, zip, and had disappeared without a trace and all because the little girl who believed prayed without ceasing!  As you can image I was ecstatic, God above answered a seven year olds prayer.  Not only did God answer that prayer, He taught that little girl about His timing in answering prayers.  Sometimes we will learn and understand at the moment a prayer is answered, sometimes it could be months or years and sometimes we may never know the reason why it was answered.  One thing we can be sure of, God knows all things and His timing is the perfect timing of all.  “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends:  with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Presence of the Lord

So many times in my adult life I have found myself slipping into doubt, after all I am a human.  Time after time God reminds me about this miracle for the little girl who believed.  Being that small child, the world was such a glorious place, full of adventure, hope and belief.  Never at any moment did that little girl doubt that the Lord could perform miracles.  Fast forward.  As adult why does it become more difficult to just pray, trust and let it go?  Perhaps the world is spinning too fast and we haven’t spent the time needed in the presence of the Lord.  Do you think one hour of church is enough time spent with the creator of the entire universe?  People, no it isn’t!  We need to be in His word daily, seeking Him in every aspect of our lives.  When we walk with the Lord daily, His presence surrounds us and leads us, and helps us in everything we do.  Spending time in the Bible aids us when we are weary and weak protects us from evil that surrounds us and encourages us daily to be like that little girl who believed.  “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at forevermore.”  Psalm 16:11 and he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

Ask Jesus Into Your Heart

If you are reading my story today and have not met our Lord and Savior, I encourage you to do so by reading the following prayer to ask Jesus into your heart.  We are all saved by God’s grace and when we have faith in His son Jesus Christ.  Christ died for all of our sins…all we need to do is hand them over to God in prayer.  That is called repentance my friend, and God wipes those sins away never to think upon them again.  God loves you!  If you would like to ask Jesus into your heart, pray this prayer:

“Dear God,

I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.

I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son.

I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life.

I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord,

From this day forward.  Guide my life and help me to do your will.

I pray this in the name of Jesus.  Amen.”

Did you pray this prayer?

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