Speaking Like The Father
A story about a wet fall morning, a mother’s warning, and a son’s gentle reply, and what it taught me about speaking God’s word back to Him.
It pleases us when children repeat something important we say to them. Just think how this pleases God when we remember what He says.
Did you know wet leaves are like ice? They are, and that’s important to know. It is also important to know that every word in the Bible is not void or empty. What do wet leaves and God’s word have in common? Great question, let’s talk.
Two Kids, Two Very Different Drivers
When my children became driving age, I must admit I was a bit fearful about one of them, who will not be named here.
One of them had done a lot of driving on private roads in Vermont and was actually a very good driver. This child was a breeze to teach, and when he or she finished the driving test, I handed over the keys to the SUV without a care, and drove off to school that very day. Always with a prayer, of course.
The other child? Oh my goodness, not so much. Not at all. Bobby and I spent months in the high school parking lot teaching this one to drive, and a good chunk of change on private driving lessons too. It was that bad. To make matters worse, this child had a lead foot and was also the one who drove the lawnmower straight through the shed wall and into the garage. When it was time to send this child to school with a car, I was on my knees in prayer.
The happy news is both are wonderful drivers today. But in those high school and college years, I did a whole lot of praying, especially on icy or wet days.
Wet Leaves Are Like Ice
Every autumn, when the leaves were falling and the roads were rainy, I retold a story about the time in college when I spun out my VW on wet leaves. It was a scary moment, and those leaves really were just like ice. I was always quite animated in the retelling.
So on those rainy fall mornings, my kids left the house to the sound of me saying, “Remember, wet leaves are like ice. Wet leaves are like ice. Wet leaves are like ice,” all the way until they were out the door.
One very wet and rainy late October morning, I was vigorously acting out my scary wet leaves story, still in my slippers and robe. This was award-worthy. And it was not the first time I had performed this particular act for them on a wet fall morning.
As my performance was ramping up, and I was acting out the moment I started to spin on those leaves, my kids nodded and passed by me on their way through the kitchen and mudroom to the car.
I Won’t Forget
Just as I reached the moral of the story, “wet leaves are like ice,” my son walked back into the kitchen and said, in the most amazingly gentle voice, “I know, Mom, wet leaves are like ice.”
He wasn’t embarrassed by my acting skills, and he wasn’t dismissive of my message. He wasn’t snarky or rude.
He kissed me on the forehead and said, “I know, Mom, I won’t forget, wet leaves are like ice.”
A wash of extreme love welled up in me and overflowed into tears. He had remembered my very words and said them back to me. This was my son. My sweet, sweet son. Thank you, God, for him.
What God’s Word Does In Us
God also loves when we repeat His very words back to Him.
He, too, says things over and over to us in His Word. Did you know that? They are important things for us to remember, even more important than “wet leaves are like ice.” What God says should become part of our very fiber, and we should speak His truth over our situations.
God is our Father, and He is a good, good Father. He tells us His words are
A lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
Psalm 119:105
They are a guide to us in this uncertain world, and a path we should follow that lead us home to Him.
God also says,
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it produce and sprout, and providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11
God has a plan for you and me, and for everyone in this world and all His creation. What He says will be just as He says, because God says what He means and means what He says.
I have latched onto the truth of “no word returning void,” void being the translation I learned in place of empty, and I speak Scripture because of it.
How pleased God must be when we take His word and revere it as holy and worthy of repeating out loud.
Praying Scripture Over My Children
Since my children were very little, they did not leave the house for school without me laying my hands on their shoulders, praying, and speaking this Scripture over them, the very words once said about Jesus,
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor before God and men.
Luke 2:52
I would pray, “May Jacqueline, may Christopher, grow in wisdom and stature and favor before God and men.”
They heard this almost every day until they had their own homes. Now I pray this over my grandbabies. What a privilege.
I want my words to be my Father’s words. I want Him to know they are important to me, and I want my actions to be His too. This will only happen if I know what He says, and to know what He says, I must know His word.
I speak God’s words back to Him so I know, and so my Father knows, that I’ve listened and believed.
A Word That Never Returns Empty
Speaking God’s word over my world brings truth into it. I know, big or small, God’s goodwill for me will be accomplished. How about you? God’s word is not magic, and it doesn’t make God do what you want. Speaking God’s word back to Him helps you bend your knee and your will to His Kingship and His Fatherhood over you.
What peace and grace and blessing come with His words when we let Him be God in our lives.
Next time you are driving on a wet and rainy fall day, remember, wet leaves are like ice, and remember that the God of the universe is waiting to hear you speak His words back to Him.
A beautiful and true verse to carry with you,
So no word that proceeds from My mouth will return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.
Isaiah 55:11
Happy Sunday, friends…
Thank you! What an encouraging word on The Word!! I believe my family’s survival has been through the power and protection that came through speaking scripture over them. It’s so funny when they start speaking it back ??.
Have a lovely and restful day!
Thanks, Gayle!
My Dad told me the same , wet leaves are like ice, he also said that when it hadn’t rained in awhile oil built up on the road and when it finally rained it was slippery, how I miss him!!
Our friend has been in the hospital for almost a month with pneumonia after COVID. I am praying Isaiah 53:5 over him. The verse says “by His stripes we (Dennis) are healed.” That’s “speaking” back to Him, I believe.
You are right DeeDee! Our Father loves we say back His words to Him and believe Him! He IS truth!
Very nice to hear on this wet fall day. Thank you for the reminder and opportunity to take in God’s word.
Thank you. Have a great day, Maggie
Amen and amen! Like you, we picked a blessing to pray over our children either every night as they went to bed or as they got out of the car at school. We chose Numbers 6:24-26:
“ May the Lord bless you and keep you, Lizzie or Carson.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance unto you and bring you peace.” In the mighty and precious name of Jesus, amen.
There’s a book called The Family Blessing, written by Rolf Garbourg. It is a collection of letters written by adults who had a blessing prayed over them consistently as a child. Their letters are precious and speak of the blessings that have been poured out over their lives and they attributed those blessings directly
to someone speaking God‘s word over them.
A secondary gift I always give at a baby shower is this verse framed with the precious baby’s name in it. Of course, the frame and matting always match with the colors the mother has chosen for the nursery.
I also can’t tell you the countless times I’ve used the same verse and inserted the person‘s name for whom I’m praying when someone shares a need or if they’re ill or afraid or getting ready to do something that is great or scary, etc. I’ve even done it with total strangers who have shared their fear, etc. We never know when God is going to call us to be that person to intercede.
What a lovely idea! Thank you for your beautiful comment, Teresa.
Love this! thank you, Yvonne.
Thanks, Rose! God bless you.
Wonderful reminder. Happy Sunday, my friend.
Thank you for your Sunday posts and for proclaiming the Word of God.
Wonderful words!!
Thank you for this message today. My oldest grandson is leaving for college in a few days and his brother will continue high school without him driving himself to school now. I will be praying over both of them. Thank you for your beautiful message!♥️
Hi Debbie, I just prayed for your two grandsons. You are welcome.
Love and cherish your Sunday nuggets! Congratulations!! StoneGable made the august issue of
Entertain and Celebrate magazine!
A great article!!
I had no idea! What edition.
It is the fall edition… you can only buy the magazine on the newsstand…
I’m sure you knew that…
BTW, the holiday issue is also on the
Newsstand…. I’m perusing it now ?
I’m sure you knew that Phyllis passed away a month or two ago… I’m so sad,
But I know her team stepped up to the plate…. Always enjoy your blog ?
I did not know Phyllis passed away. So sad. However, the best news for her, she was a believe. Thanks for letting me know.
Thank you so much for this, Yvonne! So powerful!! Reminds me of an Oswald Chambers quote that I love:
“God intended that His promises should be used. He loves to see His children bring them up to Him and say, Lord, do as thou hast said.” (paraphrased)
Just as you delighted to hear your son speak your words back to you!! ??
Thank you so much for the Oswald Chambers quote. Beautiful and true!
I love your Bible lessons. They are uplifting and so encouraging. God’s word is a golden blessing & u present it well, Thank you for sharing & being obedient to God.
Thank you Carolyn! God bless you.
You are encouraging and inspiring. Thankyou for doing what you do. I’ve enjoyed your blog for many years.
Thank you for being a part of our StoneGable community, Christy.
Thank you for your lesson, today—to pray scripture over our children and grandchildren. Have a blessed week.
You are welcome, Marg. You too!
This was so good! Thank you-it is so important to be praying for our lovedones-this is a good reminder of how to pray for them.
Hi CJ. Thank you for the lovely comment. Yes, praying for those we love is the most important thing we do.
Thank You for this email! His Word is powerful! I also love reading the comments of others. Numbers 6:24 -26 are verses wonderful to include in a Thank You card to give to a service member, a policeman or a fireman…or Anyone!
Thank you Rhonda for the godly tip.
So good! Thank you for this reminder!
You are so welcome, Heidi.