Many years ago the great protestant reformer Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560) and some colleagues were very discouraged and depressed. While taking an evening walk he came upon a group of children in prayer about their (Melanchthon’s) trying situation. Immediately his spirits were lifted, and he told his friends, “Brothers, take courage; the children are praying for us!”
When I read that story, I was immediately reminded not only of the power of prayer but also that it’s not our Biblical knowledge or impressive vocabulary that gets our prayers through to God. It’s simply the faith to pray and then believe the answer is forthcoming! God hears the prayers of kids (e.g., our daughter Larissa always got results as a kid — quick!) — but then He hears and answers the prayers of any child of His that comes to Him in sincere faith.
Melanchthon
Melanchthon, Philip
Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) was a German Reformer. He studied Greek at the University of Heidelberg before taking a teaching position in Greek studies at the University of Wittenberg. Here he met Martin Luther and the two became close allies and like-minded associates. Melancthon is often called the organizational genius behind the German Reformation. He wrote the Augsburg Confession and assumed Luther’s mantle of leadership after the great Reformer’s death. Melancthon’s personality was quite different from Luther’s, however, and his tendency to seek compromise rather than stand firm on certain key issues resulted in an early schism in the Lutheran church. His great intellect produced many of the early, official writings of the Lutheran church and he was the developer of the German system of education that continues to influence the schooling of children in that nation.