Tucking in my boy last night I smiled as he utilized his last opportunity to take control of something before the day came to its close. He commanded with a loud voice for his sister to come into his bedroom with us. He bellowed that it was time for bedtime prayers and we would all be praying together in his room. Once Alicia, Landon and I were sitting on his little bed, he established the order of prayer. He, of course, would pray first, dad would be second and Alicia would finish up the final leg of the prayer marathon. It was interesting to watch my six year old “lead worship” so I gladly let him run with it. He went first and I will give you a nearly word-for-word recall of Landon’s petitions to God:
“Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you that I got to play with Alex and that I learned some stuff at church. Please heal mommy’s leg and don’t let me have any bad dreams. Make me sleep good and thank you for Jesus dying on the cross for my sins. Lord, don’t let tomorrow be a long day. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Now you pray, daddy.”
From Calvary’s cross to Sunday School lessons to playtime with a friend to his mommy’s need for physical restoration…my boy let his petitions be made known unto God with thanksgiving. The part of the prayer that resonated with me was his declaration that he preferred his Monday to be “not long”. Now that’s something most of us can say Amen unto. If your Sunday is being lived out to the fullest it is likely that it demands much of you in service for the glory of God. For many, it begins early on a Sunday morning and lasts through the evening. I’m not a legalist but I do take seriously the injunction from Hebrews for us to not forsake the assembly of the saints and to be doubly committed as we see the Day of Christ approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25). I like the fact that Sunday is the Lord’s Day and we have opportunity to build up the saints, worship with one another and receive from the ministry of others. Sundays are special days but it would be less-than-honest if I did not admit that full Sundays can make for deflated Mondays. Tired minds and bodies coupled with the highs of Sunday being replaced with the have-to’s of Monday can tempt us to regard Monday as little more than a drudgery. Landon prayed to his God to forbid this from becoming his own reality.
Landon said, ‘Lord, don’t let tomorrow be a long day.’ I reckon that God is fully willing to answer that prayer for us today. God says to me that I should call upon Him. He tells us to cast our care upon Him because He truly cares for us. Through Paul’s quill, God instructs me to count the needs of others as being greater than my own needs on Monday. Jesus commands us to leave the worries of Tuesday for Tuesday and to simply seek God’s kingdom and righteousness today. Unto those who labor and are heavily saddled, our King promises that He possesses an easy yoke and a light burden. On top of all of this we are instructed in grace and relieved from the pressure of doing, accomplishing or obtaining in order to feel satisfied or worthy today. Glory to God, Landon, there is no call for frustration, fleshly toil or dread of what is before us today! Monday doesn’t have to be long because the same resources that are available to us on Sunday are graciously offered again on Monday…all day long.
I’m going to wait and see how my boy is when I pick him up from school today. I’m going to see if he feels that last night’s prayer was approved of God. Let me say this: it’s already been approved on my behalf. Today will be no long Monday because my Companion’s presence makes it something more. Will you take Him up on it yourself?
Matthew19:13-15 “Then children were brought to him that he may lay his hands on them and pray.The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said,”let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.”
Mark9:36″And he took a child and put him amidst of them , and taking him in his arms, he said to them,”whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
In other places in the gospel, Jesus expressed his love to little children.Children, when praying, have strong faith, even stronger than adults because they never doubt the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father. Indeed Jesus said that unless we go back and become like little children, we will never enter heaven.God bless our little Children,
Sam & Zack.
Landon is such a blessing to be around. Alex truly loves playing with him and I so enjoy watching them together. My family has truly been blessed having your family as a part of our lives. Continuing to pray daily for all of you.