Miss Bella is 18 months old! These 18 months have been full of milestones for her: rolling over, crawling, walking, feeding herself and so much more. The one skill that will mean the most for her future is learning the language she'll be using for the rest of her life. I've talked about her language development before, but there's a different aspect I'd like to explore today.
Bella knows many words and she understands so much. It's amazing to me how quickly these little people figure out the world around them. Of course, she can understand many more words than she can say. She has a set of baby signing videos that teach words along with the American Sign Language symbols for those words. It's so cute to hear her ask, "More?" as she does the sign when she wants more food or more of a favorite activity.
Because we adults are so excited about her learning words and because she is so adorable saying them, we are always talking with her, trying to get her to say certain things. So, when we are in the backyard, I don't just let her just point to the swing, I encourage her to tell me what she wants and she can do a pretty decent approximation of the word. She has learned the sign for "cracker" and uses it, along with the word, to get a snack out of my pantry. I could just anticipate her needs and wants and provide them without her saying a word, but that would slow her language growth and her independence. I don't want her going through life just pointing at things she wants and grunting.
I think that is one reason prayer is so important. God absolutely knows our every need, but He wants us to ask for what we desire. Jesus asked a blind man that very question in Mark 10 in verses 46-52. (Bold text added)
Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.
Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”
And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
I know that Jesus knew exactly what Bartimaeus wanted, but he made him articulate it, just as I do when Bella has a request. I think that the point of Jesus asking was to activate the man's faith. When he had asked, he was opening his own spirit to the possibility that he could be healed. Asking Jesus, who was the one who had the power to heal him, showed that he knew he had come to the right source. The request activated the faith which resulted in healing which led to Bartimaeus following Jesus. Through our relationship with Jesus and the words of our mouth, new things in our lives are created and changed.
I am not Bella's source - God is. While she is little though, she is learning that relationship with me (and her parents and other family members) is the key to getting her needs met, if she will ask for what she wants. We, as children of God, need to learn that same thing - that relationship comes first and asking comes next.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (John 15:7)
Abiding in Him is the very definition of relationship. If His words abide in you, you will have knowledge of His character. Then what you desire will be in accordance with what He wants for you and will be for your good. Tell Him what you want!
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