We Must Pray!!

It was a rare treat for the six girls who were living at Pacific Lifeline: they were spending the Power Group hour in my apartment because I wanted to show a video and the Children's Program VCR was being repaired. I had warned them that they had to be good, and they had bee-lined for a seat and sat quietly the minute they walked into my apartment.

We were watching a "Veggie Tales" video in which Dave, a little piece of asparagus, fights a Giant Pickle with the Lord's help (David and Goliath), and my television kept having an electrical interference problem. The third time it happened, my usual quick fix of turning the television off and on didn't work! I began to wonder what to do - Dave was yet to fight the giant pickle!! All of a sudden, a small voice cried out behind me, "WE MUST PRAY!!" It was Trina, and she was rallying the troops! She and Brianna quickly took charge, gathering everyone into a circle, telling everyone to join hands and bow their heads, and demanding that we all take turns praying. The two children from a non-Christian family voiced a concern about praying, and Brianna and Trina quickly decided they would take a second turn for those who did not want to pray. So Trina started: "Dear Father in Heaven, please fix Kirsten's TV so we can watch the rest of the video. Amen." Other small voices chimed in: "Dear Jesus, please fix the TV," "Dear God, we really want to see this video, so can you please fix the TV?" When it was my turn, I thanked God that everyone was being so good, and for the time we were spending together, and again, asked for the TV to be fixed. As the prayers finished up, I silently pleaded with God to please, really fix the TV. "What a good example it would be for the two children who are learning about You," I reasoned. The deciding moment came . . . I turned on the TV . . . and it worked . . . long enough for me to shout, "Yay God!" and turn to sit down. It was very anticlimactic for it to suddenly blip out again; however this time, my quick fix worked for the rest of the evening.

The evening ended with Dave defeating the Giant Pickle, and the children all drawing pictures of something they can do with God's help (little gals can do big things too). As they left, my heart was satisfied. It may not have been the best Power Group I have ever led, and I don't think the intended lesson was even the most important lesson taught that night. I think the biggest lesson was learned by me, taught by Trina in her rallying call of, "WE MUST PRAY!!" Yes, we must. For something as simple as a blipping television to something as huge as the future of their fragile lives, we must pray. Lord, please help me to remember to pray.