Example

— For the week of January 16, 2011 —

God of goodness, give me Yourself,
for You are sufficient for me.
— Julian of Norwich

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
— John 17:3

Several years ago at the National Association of Religious Broadcasters meeting, Dr. Richard Halverson, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, told this most insightful story.

It seems his small son was playing in the backyard with his friends when the conversation turned to one of those "my dad can whip your dad" routines. Halverson overheard one boy say, "My dad knows the mayor of our city!" Another said, "That's nothing — my dad knows the governor of our state!" Then Halverson heard his son say, "That's nothing — my dad knows God!"

Dr. Halverson reported that he slipped away from his place of eavesdropping with hot tears streaming down his cheeks. When he reached his study, he fell on his knees and earnestly prayed, "Oh, God, I pray that my boy will always be able to say, 'My dad knows God.'"

How important it is for us to be a spiritual example for our children, the same example Jesus was for His disciples and for us. He did nothing without the Father. He spent hours in prayer, garnering strength, courage, and wisdom to do the Father's will. Clearly, he showed us how to know God.

If you want to know God more intimately, follow Jesus' example. Establish your own "mountain of prayer," a special time and place to be alone with Him each day.

Taken from The Minister's Little Devotional Book.
Copyright © 1997 by H.B. London Jr. and Stan Toler.
Used by permission of RiverOak Publishing, Tulsa, Okla.
All rights reserved.