Following the song service at our son's family's church we were visiting, the minister said, "I will speak for a short time, then we are having the children from Kids' Church come down for something special." He went on to explain that they have been being taught on hearing from God and ministering in prayer.
I had heard from our son about the unusual way many in the church had employed something called a treasure hunt in prayer direction. It seems that during prayer in which they have asked God for some kind of clue as to whom they should pray for, images may come to mind of random things, such as a color, an article of clothing, a brand name, or any other impression that they feel is from God. The children had been introduced to this, too, and were prepared to pray for the adults that night, guided by the notes they had taken from clues they had received in prayer.
The minister told of a time his own young sons had ministered in this way, having been impressed by the words, "Fanta Orange." They had gone to a supermarket and hoped to see someone with an orange cap or shirt, indicating their prayer subject. Alas, they couldn't spot anyone who seemed to fit their prayer clue. Finally, they went to the soft drink aisle where they approached a man, asking if they could pray for him. He warmed to the children, being humbly appreciative of them, and shared some family problems he was having. After prayer, they bid him good-bye, and as they looked back, he was reaching for a Fanta Orange drink!
Twelve or fifteen children traipsed into the sanctuary last night following their service upstairs. "If this weren't the last night Anne-Marie has to be in the nursery, she would be here, too!" I whispered to my husband about our granddaughter. Just then I caught a glimpse of a little blonde, flitting like a light among the group! Anne-Marie, our little pray-er!
Dividing into small teams and armed with their treasure clues, the children had no trouble finding prayer needs matching their criteria. It was all very touching as the earnest children called out to God and trustingly believed for answered prayer. Although we were not selected for prayer, on the way out of the auditorium my husband and I asked a group of kids to pray for us. The Lord's presence was very real as they prayed! I definitely felt a touch from God!
Today our granddaughter is glowing in triumph as a loose tooth she has nursed for days gave way to her sudden resolve to do the deed! She now has a cute, gap-toothed smile, a minor milestone of childhood maturity and courage, sure to serve her well in the days ahead in a life lived for the Lord.
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