Joan loves her two sons with a heart filled with pride and joy. They are still in the early pre-school stage, one almost ready for pre-school and the other in what some people would call the “terrible two” stage.
Their day starts with running around and it ends running to bed. In between these activities the house is filled with sounds of, “I’m hungry, Mom,” or, “Help me, Mom,” or, “Look what my brother has done!” or just, “Moooom!”
The two boys have learnt very early in life that they need to ask their parents for everything they might need. It hasn’t crossed their young minds that their parents also need things from time to time, even if it would only be to get some extra sleep in over the weekends.
Jesus taught us in Matthew 18 that we should become as little children, accept Him as our Dad, and ask Him whatever we might need that is wholesome and good for us with words like, “Please, Daddy, …”
Joan had a special prayer-list this morning and she started early. “Please, Dad, I need to rest a bit more, please heal the boys’ colds. I had to get up more than four times last night and every time it was difficult to fall asleep again. I’m so exhausted!” She patiently mentioned all her needs to Jesus, ended her prayer to get ready for work. She is a medical doctor and a long list of patients awaits her at the practice.
Then she heard Jesus say, “You know your husband has an appointment with an important client today and yet, you did not pray for him. A new prayer conference is starting in Cape Town this afternoon, you did not pray for that either. In fact, Joan, there are so many things that I had on My prayer list that I wanted you to pray for but you did not even ask Me if I needed something.”
“Don’t worry, My child, I will never hold this against you and I have told you to come to Me and ask Me for anything you need. You’ve done exactly what I have asked you to do. However, there is an increasing need among people lately, asking for urgent prayers and there are not many people willing to pray.
It would have been so easy to give everyone who believes in Me everything they need. However, I want people to take part in having My will done on earth. That does not involve physical labour only but mostly spiritual labour by praying for other people and activities.
By this time, tears were trickling down Joan’s cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Lord. All I think about is my problems and my needs and I forget that You also have needs. We often think that because You are God, You need nothing from us. Please, Daddy, take my hand, and walk with me through this day. Most importantly, tell me what You need me to do and say, and guide me in every consultation with my patients because You know their needs.”
The rest of Joan’s day was the best day yet and if she could see Jesus, she would have noticed the smile on His face. He shared the need of every patient with her because she listened, but especially because she knew Jesus cares.
We as Christians are a team with God. When we pray, “Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, we are part of a team in accomplishing the will of God. Therefore, God wants to speak with us, sharing not only His love but also His needs for us, telling us who to pray for or what to pray for. If we fail to hear Him, we should at least allow the Holy Spirit to pray through us to ensure that all the needs of Jesus are covered.