FAITH TO LIVE BY
BY CAROL WARFIELD
“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” (II Timothy 1:5)
At age seven, I prayed a prayer in West Hickman, Kentucky. Only the Lord and I knew about it.
For some reason, my feelings had been hurt and I ran into my bedroom to hide my tears. Next to the bedroom wall was an old-fashioned trunk in which my mother stored quilts and blankets during the summer months.
I crawled up on this trunk and, looking up to the ceiling, prayed this simple prayer. “Dear God, someday I want a husband, a house, some children, and a bank full of pennies.” I jumped down and went out to play and soon forgot about my prayer.
Fourteen years rolled by. I had married and we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl.
One day when our little girl (Lanell) was just walking, I went into her bedroom to put some pennies into her piggy bank. I noticed that the bank was completely full. Looking at Lanell (who stayed under my feet most of the time,) I said to her, “Look Lanell, your piggy bank is full of pennies!”
It was at that moment that God brought back to my remembrance the childish prayer of my tender young heart. To the world it may seem that these things just happen, but for me, it was God’s way of saying, “My child, I heard you when no one else was near to ease your hurting heart. Nothing is hidden from Me. Your prayer was not prayed in vain.”
This happened on a Wednesday afternoon. That night at Bible study, I testified about this answer to prayer and the faithful Friend who had kept both me and my childish prayer in His care.
The faith I saw in my mother and other members of my family taught faith to me. This encouraged me to pray such a prayer, not realizing it would take years for the answer to come. My childish faith left it in God’s care never questioning when He would answer.
Remembering that the entire Jewish nation was built around God, it was not surprising that David’s faith in God at an early age was demonstrated when he related how the Lord delivered him out of the paw of the lion and the bear. Hindsight faith helped him believe for victory over Goliath.
I Samuel 17:45 says, “Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand. ” This statement of faith was spoken by a young lad (probably no more than seventeen years of age)!
Never underestimate the power of the faith of a child who puts their faith and trust in God.
Perhaps Samuel was the only child recorded that God dealt with on a personal level at such an early age. His mother weaned him and lent him to the Lord, as long as he lived.
I’m thankful for hindsight faith. I can look back and receive the strength to march on in righteousness.
In my early teens, I recall getting up before daybreak to find my mother at the kitchen table reading the Bible. This left a lasting impression on my mind (not to mention the times I saw her instantly healed before my eyes).
We understand that childhood habits carry over into adulthood. Therefore, many things a child experiences in growing up will affect him throughout his lifetime.
My question to you is, “What are you instilling into the heart of your child? What kind of heritage will you pass on? Only what we do for Christ will last!
THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY WISCONSIN DISTRICT NEWS, JUNE/JULY 1995, PAGE 7. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
