Bull Doe Doze

Years ago, we lived in a house that backed up to a wooded area, and beyond that was a pretty two-lane road that was tree-lined. We got to enjoy the wooded area beyond our backyard for a limited time before construction work started since the county was turning the two-lane road into a parkway. The workers cleared the trees and then the big machinery moved in: earthmovers, backhoes, and bulldozers.

Our oldest was about one-and-a-half years old at the time. He was fascinated with the construction equipment and would stand at the glass sliding door for a long time looking out beyond the yard into the distance to the work being done. As the bulldozer worked away, I pointed to it and said, "That is a bulldozer. Can you say bulldozer?" At first, his cute one-year-old voice said, "Bull-bull." After a few weeks, with more help from me, he would say, "Bull doe doze."

If you've ever heard a baby or toddler that you haven't spent much time with, you would have to admit their words are hard to understand. Because I was with our little one all day long, day in and day out, I knew all his words. I was able to "interpret" for my husband Buddy when he came home from work what our son was saying, even though he was (and still is) a wonderful connected dad in the lives of our sons and daughter-in-law.

Pivot over to prayer... I don't know about you but sometimes when I pray, I am at a loss as to what to pray. I have lifted up a friend in prayer who has lost a loved one. I was so saddened for the friend because I have experienced the same loss and yet I find myself at a loss for words not knowing precisely what to say to the Lord. Sure, I asked Him to comfort and provide peace for my friend and the family. But my spirit seemed to want to pray for more that I could not express in words. Or sometimes I would be praying for something, and I just could not find the right words to say. I would start telling God something, but then I find myself saying to Him, "Scratch that. That's not what I meant. There's more. Ummm..." I would try again, and yet wrestle in my spirit with the words formed from my thoughts because they couldn't fully describe my feelings and what I wanted to pray about.

Has that ever happened to you? Or is it just Yours Truly? :) At times like this, I rely on God's Holy Spirit. You see, His Word says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:26-28 NIV)

There's so much more in that entire chapter 8, but those verses provided me with the confidence that when I'm struggling with what I want to pray about but my words may sound like "bull doe doze," God's Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf. Because the Holy Spirit came to live in me when I accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life, He knows my spirit and interprets my bull-doe-doze prayers to God the Father. The Holy Spirit can help you too if you let Him.

Next weekend, people around the world will be celebrating Easter. Why? Because Jesus died on the cross for ALL of humankind's wrongdoings (sins) and by doing so gave us forgiveness and eternal life if we believe in Him. Not only that but we also have peace, purpose, and joy in our short time here. It is a completely free gift that humankind cannot earn by doing good. All you have to do is accept it. And just like any gift, it's not yours if you don't accept it and use it.

Here's an example for some traction. Someone tells you they are giving you their car; a very nice car. (This happened to us once--a beautiful red Jeep Cherokee.) All you have to do is accept it and pick it up. Totally free. Is it yours if you don't believe it, pick it up, and use it? Not if you don't accept and take ownership, right? It is the same way with Jesus.

Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life? Are you in tune with His Holy Spirit living in you so that not only does He interpret your bull doe doze prayers, but He is with you through every situation, and guides and directs your steps in life? Perhaps your relationship with God is but a memory from long ago. It's never too late to return to Him and ask Him to be back and involved in your life, as you live for Him day by day, moment by moment.

John 3:16 NIV For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast.