Little Excerpt from Part 3

In my Sunday School classes when I was a kid the teacher would ask if we had any prayer requests and, shy little girl that I was, I never raised my hand. But then she asked the question I had been waiting for, “Who has an unspoken request?” I haven’t heard that term in years, but I remember how eagerly I would raise my hand when she asked. Even if my request to God was to heal my dog or help me in a kickball game, I loved the feeling of having a secret that only God and I knew about.


Oh, to have that simple faith again. It was an easy thing to believe that God knew my inmost thoughts without my having to utter a word. But with growing age comes growing doubt and growing effort to try to get into the presence of God and feel that my prayer is heard.

But God is no man that I must struggle to get his attention or entertain him with fancy, intelligent conversation to keep him interested. His attention is always on us. We are the prodigal son walking home racking our brains to figure out a way to get into our father’s presence again – while He has been waiting for us to show up and runs to us when we approach.

Job said that God never takes His eyes off the righteous (36:7). The truth is that though we may feel we are the ones that hope God is there when we come to Him, it is actually God who is always waiting for even a sign to come and fellowship with us. He said that if we knock on His door He’ll open it gladly. If He sees you starting to look for Him, as two best friends would in a crowded room – you’ll find Him. All you have to do is ask – and you’ll receive. Ask Him to join you, talk with you, walk with you throughout your day – and He has promised that you’ll get what you ask. (Matthew 7:8)

“Within thy circling power I stand

On every side I find thy hand.

Awake, asleep, at home, abroad

I am surrounded still by God.”