From the devotional "The Upper Room"
A LESSON IN COMMUNICATION
Read Psalm 139:1-6
"The psalmist wrote, "Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely." Psalm 139:4
Once I was asked to go to the hospital to meet with an elderly woman who had lost her ability to speak. When I entered her room, she smiled warmly and told me with a wave of her hand to come closer and sit down. Then she pointed to a little red book of daily Bible verses on her table.
"Would you like me to read the verse for the day for you?" I asked. She nodded, and I began to read these words from Matthew 12:36: "I tell you, on the day of judgement you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter." Such cruel words for her in this situation, I thought.
When I stopped reading, she slowly lifted her hands, clasped as in prayer. Then she moved her hands in the air in an up-and-down motion. What a strong image she gave of praying to God!
"Do you mean that God can hear your thoughts in prayer?" I asked. She nodded, took my hand, and squeezed it gently.
I had been taught a most beautiful lesson: God understands our prayers in every circumstance and can show us how to share love with those we meet, even when we have lost the ability to speak.
God hears our prayers even when we cannot find words to speak.
A LESSON IN COMMUNICATION
Read Psalm 139:1-6
"The psalmist wrote, "Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely." Psalm 139:4
Once I was asked to go to the hospital to meet with an elderly woman who had lost her ability to speak. When I entered her room, she smiled warmly and told me with a wave of her hand to come closer and sit down. Then she pointed to a little red book of daily Bible verses on her table.
"Would you like me to read the verse for the day for you?" I asked. She nodded, and I began to read these words from Matthew 12:36: "I tell you, on the day of judgement you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter." Such cruel words for her in this situation, I thought.
When I stopped reading, she slowly lifted her hands, clasped as in prayer. Then she moved her hands in the air in an up-and-down motion. What a strong image she gave of praying to God!
"Do you mean that God can hear your thoughts in prayer?" I asked. She nodded, took my hand, and squeezed it gently.
I had been taught a most beautiful lesson: God understands our prayers in every circumstance and can show us how to share love with those we meet, even when we have lost the ability to speak.
God hears our prayers even when we cannot find words to speak.