A horse named faith

Children have a powerful link to the other world (Matthew 18:1-4). They haven't become jaded yet, so they can see things most of us miss.

And children don't pray like adults. We tend to edit our prayers, throwing in disclaimers here and there to buttress against disappointment. But children just pray. They know what they want and they go after it with enthusiasm.

Through her work, my wife knows a family with a remarkable story about childlike faith. It seems their granddaughter, Hannah, passionately loves horses, takes riding lessons, and has always wanted a horse of her own.

Recently the family went to a local trade-day flea market where St. Jude's Children's Hospital raffle tickets were being sold to win a horse. Hannah begged to buy a ticket. After some discussion she received $5.00 and bought a chance on the horse.

She took the ticket home and prayed every day that she would win. She told everyone she would win. She also said that when (not if) she won the horse, her name would be "Faith".

You guessed it. Out of 2,500 tickets sold, Hannah's won the horse! The mare is now stabled and waiting to be trained so Hannah can ride.

I know what you're thinking. What about all those kids (and adults, too) who bought tickets, wanting the horse, but are disappointed? How many wished for the horse and wish they had won?

The answer is found in Mark 11:22-24. Jesus said, "...whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (11:24 NIV).

Faith isn't just wishing. Faith is talking and acting as if the prayer is already answered. (You can't do that without spending some time in His word searching out His promises.)

Faith moves heaven because it pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). In fact, without it, you can't even please the Father. He doesn't answer based on wishes, or even based on my needs... he answers because one has faith in Him.