George Washington's Wig
Friday, February 28, 2025
“Prayer is the forerunner of mercy. Turn to sacred history, and you will find that scarcely ever did a great mercy come to this world unheralded by supplication.” – C.H. Spurgeon
My wife Deanna babysits for our two youngest granddaughters four days per week and also takes our youngest grandson to and from school on those days. Her days are long, starting as early as 6:15 AM and not ending until 5:30 PM, and I don’t know where she gets the energy or patience. Let’s just say that she is a very special “Noni”.
When I pick her up at the end of one of her workdays, Dylan and Bella often run out to my car to say hi and give me a hug. They also know that I usually have a small treat of some sort in my car for them. Dylan has a fascination with George Washington (and his wig), so I usually give him a couple of quarters, whereas Bella is happy to have two pieces of gum… “one for Mommy and one for me.”
However, before I give them their little presents, I make sure they say the same “magic words” that I was taught as a youngster: “Please” and “Thank you”.
In many ways, those same words are the keys to a productive prayer life. We shouldn’t come barging into God’s throne room with a list of demands, as if He were some sort of genie who was required to grant our every wish. On the contrary, we should approach His throne of grace with the utmost respect and reverence, making our prayers and petitions known as a dependent child would before a loving and benevolent father.
And, once our prayer is answered, we should always respond with a heartfelt expression of thanks, whether we liked the answer or not. After all, Father knows best!
Here is how Charles Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers”, summarizes the subject…
“Prayer is always the preface to blessing. It goes before the blessing as the blessing’s shadow. When the sunlight of God’s mercies rises upon our necessities, it casts the shadow of prayer far down upon the plain.”
“Lord, teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
