When she told me about this I immediately thought that she should have told him it was Andy. Perhaps you've heard the story about the little boy telling his mama that he knew God's name and that it was "Andy."

His mama asked him, "How do you know God's name is Andy."

The little boy said, "Because that's what it says in the song!" "What song," she asked.

He replied, "The one we sing at church. It says, 'I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses. Andy walks with me. Andy talks with me. Andy tells me I am his own.'"

Well, who can argue with logic like that! (Apologies to C. Austin Miles, the writer of "I come to the Garden Alone"!)

Sometimes it takes a child to make God personal to us.

What is really wonderful is the simplicity of the way children approach God. As an adult have you ever wondered how to address God. If you listen to the prayers in your church, it's normally a very formal "Our Heavenly Father ..." or "Our Father who art in heaven ..." There is nothing wrong with addressing God in that way, but children want to know God more personally. They are trying to figure out just who he is and how he fits into their world.

As adults, we can sometimes overlook, or perhaps sometimes are afraid of a personal relationship with God. We may fear him, or maybe it's more that we deeply respect him, but often we don't see him as the loving Father he really is! If we are ever going to have peace and comfort in this life, somewhere along the line, we are going to have to come to know God as someone who cares for us — our loving Abba Father (Romans 8:15-17). I'm not saying that we should show disrespect for God, but how do you view him? Can you talk with him as a loving father?

Peter writes to encourage early Christians facing persecution with these words:

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you (1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT).

Praying God's Word by Beth Moore You will truly be liberated after reading Beth's book dealing with powerful emotions from the burden of anger, bitterness, to unforgiveness.

Russ Lawson is a former missionary to Africa and minister in Ohio. He now works with World Christian Literature Outreach and writes a weekly email devotional, Messages from the Heart. For more information about Russ, click here.

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