Have a Little Talk with Jesus

Let Us Have a Little Talk with Jesus

Q: I heard a song as I was growing up that I believe was called: Just
a Little Talk With Jesus . I was humming it to myself today as I
worked and suddenly stopped. I realized I did not have a clue as to
what a "prayer wheel" was. I could not recall anything in Scripture
about a prayer wheel so I thought perhaps this might not be a good
song to be humming after all.

The song goes something like this in case you are not familiar with
the words (I have forgotten some of it so this may not be exactly
how it goes):

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus,
Let tell Him all about our troubles,
He will hear our earnest prayer and
He will answer by and by
So when you see a little prayer wheel turning
You will know a little fire is burning
And just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

A: I have known this song as well. It has a catchy tune and is quite
popular. It is also an example of how false doctrine gets slipped into
songs. Your question about the "prayer wheel" is a case in point.
Initially, a prayer wheel was a cylinder used by Tibetan Buddhists. They
would write mantras, sacred texts, prayers, and attach them to the
cylinder. When the wheel was turned clockwise (never anti-clockwise), it
was thought to release the power in the texts and prayers. These prayer
wheels can be as small as 3 inches high or as large as 20 feet, they may
be set in rows, and they may be turned by water power or even electrical
motors today. It acts as a mechanical aid or substitute for prayer. Just
turn the wheel (or hook it up to a motor) and your prayers take off to
heaven.

I also found evidence of a form of prayer wheels being used in churches.
A late nineteenth century quote mentions it as being in some churches in
England. Oxford English Dictionary defines this prayer wheel as a "wheel
set with bells and fastened to the ceiling of a chapel, formerly used for
divination in connection with masses or other devotional services."
Obviously, it was a form of superstition that came into the churches.

Notice also that the song refers to a little fire burning. This probably
refers to the burning of candles as a substitute for prayer--another
superstition. Finally, the emphasis is on "a little talk with Jesus." I
am not sure what this is, but it does not have any relationship that I
can recognize with biblical references to prayer. Perhaps what we need to
burn with a little fire is this song. It may be fun to sing (as I
personally know myself) but it is not faithful to God's word. Thank you
for the excellent question.

Till He comes,

Pastor David Reagan

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