“Mommy! I had another bad dream. I wish they would go away!” This had to stop. What was I to do? I couldn’t crawl into Eva’s dreams and battle them away for her. She had to do it. I began to pray, “Lord, show me the way. I need to teach my girls that bad dreams can’t stay. I need to teach them the power we possess as Christians. Help me find a way, Lord. – Amen.”
Later that day, an idea came to me. I took two glasses, filled one with water, and left the other empty. I grabbed some red food coloring and matches. I was ready. I called Eva and Charlotte to the table. Charlotte was very excited without understanding the concepts. I also gave her some goldfish to pacify her time. On the other hand, Eva was curious about what I was up to.
I started with, “This cup full of water is Jesus. The empty cup beside it represents Eva.” I held up the food coloring and told her it was our pretend blood, the blood of Jesus. Drip…drip…drip went the red drops into the water glass. As it rippled through the liquid, I assured her by saying, “Eva, the Bible says Jesus was beaten for our peace (Isaiah 53:5). The Bible tells us that we can lay down at night and sleep peacefully (Psalms 4:8). Jesus is the Prince of peace!”
Drip…drip…drip, the bleeding pierced through the water, invading every molecule until it was as scarlet. Eva and Charlotte were mesmerized by the action. Eva’s eyes, however, were focused on the truth I was teaching.
Then I took the scarlet mixture and poured it into the empty glass. Eva watched as the empty glass began to fill up with the crimson stain. I resounded, “Eva, the same power lives inside of you because Jesus lives in your heart.” Her eyes lit up as if she had just found the answer; she had.
I reached for my match and struck it. While the flame danced before my eyes, I disguised my voice, growling, “The devil whispers, ‘I can give you bad dreams any time I want.’ ‘Your room isn’t safe.’ ‘You will always be afraid.'”She looked at me, defeated, as if that was exactly what her little mind was thinking.
Charlotte kept eating her goldfish.
But then, I paused, smiled, and released the match into the crimson stain! I looked at her triumphantly and spoke, “But the devil is no match against the blood!” She watched that match go out like a light. Again and again, I struck a match and threw it into the blood. Each time it went out without a fight. The girls cheered, realizing the victory that had been won!
I looked at Eva and Charlotte and preached, “The same blood that saves us heals us! The same blood that keeps us safe takes away all fear – including bad dreams! God died on the cross so you could lie down at night and sleep peacefully, Eva and baby Charlotte. He paid it all!”
Eva got up from the table, understanding the power of the blood. Charlotte continued to eat her goldfish.
Interestingly, the same blood flowing through Jesus’s veins healed all who came to him for a miracle. Yet it did nothing for the Roman soldiers that crucified Jesus. His blood would have fallen directly upon them, yet it had no effect. His blood would have saved the decrepit heart of those who sent Him to be crucified and those who betrayed Him – but it didn’t. Countless Bible stories prove there is power in the blood, and it still did nothing for some. What was the difference? The receiver has a part to play. It is faith in the blood of Jesus that brings the power.
Later that same day, Eva asked me how I had thought of my water glass idea. I grinned and told her of a lady who pulled out my prayer request from the church basket when I was about six years old. I had written that I had terrible dreams. She didn’t toss my note aside because I was a little kid. She came and found me.
“Ms. Deb did the same thing for me that I did with you,” I told Eva. “She took me outside and lit a match. She said when she blew the match out, the bad dreams would be all gone because the devil did not have the power. Jesus had the power. Then she knelt beside me and prayed with me.”
I don’t remember the words prayed, but Ms. Deb knew the power of the blood, and she taught a little girl to believe.
Last year, Eva came to us and wanted us to help her ask Jesus in her heart; how much she understands, I do not know, but I know this; she knew enough to realize she needed a Savior. We all need a Savior. It may not be bad dreams that plague your life, but without Jesus, there is no peace. If you have not made Jesus the Lord of your life, Easter is a great time to do that.
There is an empty tomb because there is a risen Savior – the devil is no match for the blood!
And Charlotte continued to eat her goldfish.
SUBSCRIBE and receive my free printables, monthly newsletter, and weekly blog posts straight to your email!
