This morning I had planned to go to the park for my church’s outdoor service, but as I was pulling out of my driveway, it started to rain. At times like this in the summer, it does my soul wonders to be with God in His outdoor tabernacle, but with the rain, I turned around and came back to the house. As always since COVID-19, if it is impossible to sit outdoors, I turn to Max Lucado’s sermons for solace. Today’s sermon was about handling our problems with prayer, and immediately, Max communicated with my heart.
Our lives are a gift from God, ones that often come in parts. When our problems overwhelm us, how do we respond, with anger, frustration, or prayer? At the wedding in Canaan, Jesus turned water into wine after it had run out, and Jesus’ mother, Mary, specifically asked Jesus in prayer, “We are out of wine.” It was just a simple sentence, but with it, Jesus answered Mary’s prayer with action. He changed the water into six urns filled with the most delicious wine.
So often in our lives, we delay going to God for help. We have a tendency to think that we are able to handle everything by ourselves. Our responses are egotistical and high and mighty, and usually, they do not make the mark. Asking your prayer specifically and succinctly, you honor God. You may say who did Mary think she was to ask Jesus to do His first miracle, but I say, “Who knew Him better?” Today is Father’s Day, and who knows us better? Abba does. We need to trust Him to do the right thing in His time.
Unfortunately, rather than going to God with our problems, we take our frustration and pain out on others. If we do not take our problems to God, they can fester, get infected, and spread throughout ourselves, our families, our communities, and our nation. This is what is happening in our nation right now with the unrest, division, and violence occurring in our streets, our communities, and our states. We think our elected officials will handle everything with mercy and kindness, but they do not without God’s help. We cannot look to them for peace because evil does not give you peace. It’s gives you anger, hatred, violence, vitriol, and greed. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippines 4: 6 KJV) Always remember that if you bare the name of Christ in your heart, you have the power with Him and with God.
As God’s children, our futures are directed by the earnest prayers of everyone of us. God is equipping us with our faiths, and our prayers will have a direct influence on Him. Guiding you and giving you peace, Christ will respond by giving us beautiful journeys, beautiful wine. With God at the rudders of our boats, we will reach the other shore, strong enough to handle our problems, even if we have to take baby steps to solve them.
Anna Hartt
