Do you believe in the power of prayer? Prayer is an important power. Prayer is a response, not something we initiate. Powerful praying changes things. Prayer has certainly changed my life, how about yours?

Recently, Kyle Hunter, a young lad who attends The Learning Station, taught me lessons about the power of humility and prayer. He entered The Learning Station wearing a sheepish grin and handed me a beautifully wrapped package. He stood still as a statue until I opened his gift. With a flock of little children waiting for instruction, the timing for opening Kyle’s gift seemed all wrong. Yet, when I pulled a Willow Tree ‘Angel of Prayer’ from the box, His timing was perfect.

Every child rushed to touch the beautiful prayer angel. Kyle asked ‘did I get the right one? The phone rang, and the trials of a summer day triumphed anything the enemy tried to spoil. I hugged Kyle and thanked him for the unexpected gift. His words were the best blessing of all. “Ms. Becky, I wanted to get the right angel for how we pray here.” Kyle’s few words were priceless and precious. His eyes danced as my heart recalled years of working with him doing math and reading, and watching him grow into a powerful little Christian. Kyle stands today to pray with no fear. Kyle and I share a close relationship. I’ve encouraged him through seasons of shyness and stubbornness. He has stuck by me like King David’s rebel fighters did him. Kyle is attentive to doing things that some children overlook, always eager to help and find better ways to get the job done. A few weeks ago, we were shucking corn. I explained the process of freezing vegetables as my knife cut ends off each corn cob. He taught me to use the back side of the knife to scrape the cob, so my knife wouldn’t become dull and more juice would make the corn creamier. I honored him for his wealth of knowledge and common sense.

When Kyle gave me the Angel of Prayer, I knew God had touched his heart and helped him see the power of pure, precious prayers from little children. Kyle is growing up quickly and his seasons at The Learning Station won’t last forever. His journey will continue as he makes his mark on the world and leaves memories of his gentle spirit and powerful prayers in my heart. The Angel of Prayer will be a reminder of a little boy who loved me a lot. These are the gifts that bring the greatest joy.

Zachery, a young student at The Learning Station, reminds me of King David when he was a lad looking for ways to honor God. King David prayed when it seemed the giant would never face defeat. The power of prayer was evident as the shepherd boy stood tall and prayed for God to be honored and the giant to be slain. A simple stone toppled the mighty man that defied God. David cut off his head and held it high – proof of the power of prayer, even through the efforts of a child who believes and glorifies God.

Recently, Zachery’s grandfather and MeMe planned a family reunion at their house. His grandfather awoke on Sunday morning with plans to grill good food and have the family gather after church. A kidney stone caused him to wrench in pain and call off the reunion. Family members wondered what to do. Little Zachery quickly spoke up, “Let’s pray for PaPa and lay hands on him.”

Zachery’s grandmother recounted this family story in my office a few days later. Our tears told the story of two sisters in Christ who understand the power of prayer and the joy of a grandson who practices it. She thanked us for teaching our little children to pray. She told how she was driving through a storm recently and Zachery was buckled up in the back seat. The wind and rain terrified them; little Zachery told his mother and grandmother they needed to pray, and they did. Their prayers were answered again when PaPa passed the kidney stone hours after they prayed over him. The family reunion proceeded as planned, with PaPa cooking on the grill and all Zachery’s family witnessing the power of prayer.

God is glorified as His little children learn to pray and practice it every day. Zachery’s young age and short stature doesn’t stop him from standing tall and sharing powerful prayers. Surely, God smiles when His little children honor Him before family, friends, and strangers with prayers from the heart. Wherever our children go, whatever we do, whoever we visit…we take time to pray and ask God to take care of things.

God uses people, even little children, who believe in the power of prayer to touch lives, change things, and glorify Him. Do you believe in the power of prayer? I sure do.