Matthew 7:9-11
“Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread? Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
OK Lord, it’s late today and I was so busy I forgot to get my thoughts in this blog down on paper. Humm . . . come to think of it, I didn’t have much time yesterday to spend time with you, Lord. Or the day before. I’m brain dead for an idea. What’s this? Bill Hybel’s book, “Too Busy Not to Pray”. It is dusty and laying on the back of the shelf. Great sense of humor Lord!
Sometimes we all get caught up in the rush of the moment of being too busy to spend any time with the Lord. There are great reasons like work, children, husband or wife, chores, or numerous other activities. We are faithful for a period of time and talk to the Lord each day. Then one event or more turns our routine upside down. I must plead guilty because the reasons that I rationalized in my mind as to why I have not prayed more and spent time with the Lord are poor, at best.
Another reason I have used is that God really has a lot more important things to do than listen to me. My stuff is so petty. Then in reading the scripture today, I know that it’s not about our petitions in prayers but in the relationship of prayer.
He knows what we need and responds to it so well. Yet it is us who need to understand that we do not accomplish great things on our own. This realization of appreciating the Lord’s work in our lives comes from opening our eyes to the beauty around us in God’s creation.
Maybe it’s a morning sunrise, listening to the birds greet a new day, or watching our children being so innocent when they sleep. God’s involvement with us personally is written all over those things and so much more. We just need to take a deep breath and slow down. We should try spending more time in strengthening our relationship with the Lord. Talking with the Lord when we’re not just asking for help may be more rewarding than pleading with Him to give us help during a crisis.
He may even show us a dusty book sitting in the back of a shelf.