I believe that the coming revival will be spear-headed by children. I have a special reason for believing this because of an incident which took place in my church last Sunday.
The youth leaders who teach the children during the morning service had asked if I would assist them for a little while by pretending I was sick. I was to be lying on the floor when they brought the children into the room and the children would pray for me. I agreed.
Before the children came in, I prayed that I would really look sick. So when they arrived, I was lying there pretending I had a bad cough. What I hadn't reckoned on happening is the reason I write this article.
The children arrived like a group of roaring lions--ages three to twelve. They surrounded me, and then became very quiet as their leader asked them to pray for me. In a moment, a tiny finger dipped in oil drew a cross on my forehead and a child's voice said, "In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be healed." Then all the children began to pray for me.
I knew that I had been touched by the finger of God. Of course, I stopped the phony coughing immediately. But something had happened to me. The weariness and heaviness I had been feeling was gone. For a brief moment, I began to weep, then I just lay there enjoying God's healing peace.
The children watching me didn't understand what was happening, and they wondered why I remained lying there. As soon as I could manage it, I sat up to explain what had happened. Although I had started out by pretending I needed to be healed, in actual fact I HAD been healed!
The tiny finger was the finger of God touching a weary body and bringing into it new life. And all those tiny hands which touched me and all those little voices praying for me were none other than the touch and voice of Jesus himself.
The Bible says, "A little child shall lead them" (Isa.11:6). That verse was a prophecy foretelling the Child who would be born in a manger who would one day be King over all the earth. Yet I believe the great revival about the take place will be led by the children and youth who have themselves been touched by God.
The present renewal movement which is now sweeping the world is preparing the church to train and equip these young warriors. Christians are tired of the evil in the world, and are looking to Jesus to empower them to do something about it.
I thank God for the youth leaders in my church who are specially called and equipped to lead young people to Jesus Christ. I pray for them and for the work they are doing. May God raise up many more such leaders!
© 1999, Doreen Palmer