Ask, Seek, Knock

Our church has been doing a sermon series on prayer called ‘The engine room’ and had some challenging questions about prayer for our small groups to discuss. I realise that, despite many years of experience, the reality is that tomorrow or the next day might bring some really tough challenges to my confidence and my faith. I certainly cannot afford to be complacent or take anything for granted.

Although some of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world are having to pray for protection against life-threatening bombs and rockets, I believe that all of us face the reality of situations that rob us of the abundant life that our Lord Jesus promises to give. He said, ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10).

One day my husband and I were discussing this topic of prayer when he discovered one of his hearing aids was missing. He had been out all morning shopping in several places and then had done some gardening. A hearing aid is extremely small, and it could have fallen out anywhere. We both started searching the car, the house, and the garden, trying not to think of the worst scenario. We now had to put into practice what we had been discussing. I was praying as hard as I knew how to. The following day we were to go to an important family event and Paul needed to be able to enjoy communicating with everyone. Eventually, Paul came back from the greenhouse with the hearing aid. It had dropped on the floor there.

I am tempted so often into just feeling anxious and worrying about things. There are countless situations in daily life today which I have no control over, such as traffic delays caused by incidents on the road, and technological difficulties with computers, phones and iPads. A choice lies before me. Will I get upset and angry, or will I take it to my heavenly Father in prayer?

I suppose that I am so used to trying to fix things that go wrong, and think of solutions to problems that, when I can’t do that, I tend to panic. So, I am trying to deliberately stop that by memorising some advice from the apostle Paul and doing my best to put it into practice. I have stuck some verses on my kitchen fridge where I will see them every day to remind myself.

He writes, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This is similar to one of my favourite passages of the Bible, which is: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:4-7).