Speaking Like The Father

It pleases us when children repeat something important we say to them. Just think how this pleases God when we remember what He says.

Did you know wet leaves are like ice? They are! That’s an important thing to know. And it is also very important to know that every word in the Bible will not be void or empty! What do wet leaves and God’s word have in common? Great question, let’s talk…

When my children, my babies, became driving age I must admit I was a bit fearful about one of them who will not be named here.

One of them had done a lot of driving on private roads in Vermont and was actually a very good driver. This child was a breeze to teach and when he/she finished his/her driving test I handed the keys of the SUV over to him/her to drive to school that very day without a care. But always with a prayer!

The other child? Oh my goodness!!!! Not so much! Actually not at all! We (Bobby and I) spent months in the high school parking lot teaching him/her. And we spent a good chunk of change for private driving lessons too. It was that bad!

And to add to this child’s issues, he/she had a lead foot! This was also the child who drove the lawnmower through the shed wall and into the garage! Yup! When it was time to send him/her to school with a car, I was on my knees in prayer!

The happy news is both are wonderful drivers today. But in those high school and college years, I did a whole lot of praying! And especially on icy or wet days.

During Autumn, when the leaves were falling from the trees and it was rainy, I always retold a story about the time in college when I spun out my VW on wet leaves. It was a scary situation. Those leaves were just like ice! And I was very animate in the retelling!

So on those rainy days when autumn leaves were falling, my kids always left the house to me saying, “REMEMBER, WET LEAVES ARE LIKE ICE… WET LEAVES ARE LIKE ICE… WET LEAVES ARE LIKE ICE….” until they were out the door.

One very wet and rainy late October morning, I was vigorously acting out the retelling of my scary wet leaves story in my slippers and robe. This was academy award worthy! This was not the first time I had performed this act for them on a wet fall morning!

As my act was ramping up and I was acting out how I started to spin on wet leaves my kids nodded and passed by me on their way through the kitchen and mudroom to the car.

Just as I was getting to the moral of the story, “WET LEAVES ARE LIKE ICE,” my son walked back into the kitchen and said in the most amazingly gentle voice… “I know, Mom, wet leaves are like ice”!

He wasn’t embarrassed by my acting skills or dismissive of my message. He was not snarky or rude!

He kissed me on the forehead and said, “I know, Mom, I won’t forget wet leaves are like ice.”

A wash of extreme love welled up in me and overflowed in tears. He had remembered my very words and said them back to me! This was my son! My sweet, sweet son! Thank you, God, for him!

God also loves when we parrot back His very words to Him!

He, too, says things over and over to us in His word. Did you know that? They are important things for us to remember! Even more important than WET LEAVES ARE LIKE ICE!

What God says should become part of our very fiber. And we should speak His truth over our situations.

God is our FATHER! And He is a good, good Father. He tells us His words are…

A LAMP UNTO OUR FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO OUR PATHS Ps 119:105

They are a guide to us in this uncertain world and a path we should follow to lead us home to Him!

God also says…

FOR JUST AS THE RAIN AND THE SNOW FALL FROM HEAVEN AND DO NOT RETURN WITHOUT WATERING THE EARTH MAKING IT BUD AND SPROUT, PROVIDING SEED TO SOW AND FOOD TO EAT, SO NO WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM MY MOUTH WILL RETURN TO ME EMPTY, BUT IT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I PLEASE, AND IT WILL PROSPER WHERE I SEND IT. IS 55:11

God has a plan for you and me and everyone in this world and all His creation. And what He says will be just as He says. Because God says what He means and means what He says.

I have latched onto the truth of “no word returning void” (void instead of empty is the translation I learned) and speak Scripture.

How pleased God must be when we take His word and revere it as holy and worthy of repeating out loud!

Since my children were very little, they did not leave the house for school without me laying my hands on their shoulders and praying. And speaking this scripture over them that was said about Jesus…

AND JESUS GREW IN WISDOM AND STATURE AND FAVOR BEFORE GOD AND MEN Luke 2:52

I would pray… “May Jacqueline/Christopher grow in wisdom and stature and favor before God and men.

They heard this almost every day until they had homes of their own.

Now, I pray this over my grandbabies. What a privilege!

I want my words to be my Father’s words. I want Him to know they are important to me. And I want my actions to be His too! This will only happen if I know what He says. And to know what He says, I must know His word.

I speak God’s words back to Him so I know, and my Father knows I’ve listened and believed!

And speaking God’s word over my world brings truth into it! I know, big or small, God’s goodwill for me will be accomplished!

How about you? God’s word is not magic or does not make God do what you want. Speaking God’s word back to Him helps you bend your knee and your will to His Kingship and Fatherhood over you!

What peace and grace and blessing come with His words when we let Him be God in our lives!

Next time you are driving on a wet and rainy fall day remember WET LEAVES ARE LIKE ICE and remember that the God of the universe is waiting to hear you speak His words back to Him.

A beautiful and true verse to think about…

SO NO WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM MY MOUTH WILL RETURN TO ME EMPTY, BUT IT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I PLEASE, AND IT WILL PROSPER WHERE I SEND IT. IS 55:11