Who’s Rattling Your Gate?

Prayer is a great tool God has given us, but we seldom use it.  I know some Christians who are faithful to pray daily and tell me often they have prayed for me.  I am so impressed with their faithfulness.  In spite of what you may think, prayer is not tricky; it is simply talking to God.
The lack of prayer from believers indicates a vicious cycle has been established.  Christians fail to pray because they’ve not seen their prayers answered.  Since they can’t see an almighty, eternal God work, they cease to pray.  That is unless there is a dire need and even then most Christian’s faith falters.
I’m concerned that when believers pray they are not expecting to “see” God answer their prayers.  In my opinion, the gesture of closing one’s eyes while praying carries over to their expectancy of their prayers being heard or answered.  In other words, we keep our spiritual eyes shut and never see God work regarding our petitions.
I think many Christians would respond like Rhoda, the young servant girl in Acts 12:1-17.  When she heard Peter rattle the gate outside the home where Jesus’ followers were gathered praying, she ran to tell everyone Peter was there.  She forgot one minor detail though; she failed to open the gate and let Peter enter.  She was shocked God had actually answered their prayers.
When we pray according to God’s will we too will be shocked at His response.

A Nail Biter

When will I finally learn?  Many times in my life when a situation arises that is cause for alarm I immediately think to run to God.  I let Him know what is happening, like He is unaware, and then I ask for His guidance, help, wisdom, and direction.   Secondly, I then do what most Christians do; I set to worrying.
When King David was just a boy and faced with the challenge of a giant he was mocked and ridiculed by his brothers and asked how he planned to defeat such an adversary.  Without hesitation, David replied, the same God who allowed him to conquer the bear and the lion would see him through this challenge.  He stated that the battle was not his, but it was God’s.  1 Samuel 17:37
God is big enough to handle His battles without me getting in the way.  He has seen me through many tough situations and has never let me down.  When will I learn to rest in His promise and just simply take Him at His word?  One day at a time.

Varmints at My Window

When I was a young boy we lived in the country about an hour or so outside of Dallas, Texas. Our house was nestled within 25 acres of oak trees and our closet neighbor for the longest time was a mile away. I use to tell people, when asked, that we lived out in the woods. It was a great place to grow up. During the day we would go into the woods and mess around for hours. We would come back to the house with an earthy smell and I’m sure chiggers, ticks, and who knows what else.

Sometimes at night my old home could be a bit frightening. You could hear coyotes, owls, and other varmints that made me think they were at my window ready to enter for an evening snack. On nights like this I would find my way to my parent’s room and settle in at the foot of their bed. Once and a while I would come out of my room and find my parents sitting in the living room. I would explain my fears and at times I’d get to set with them until the moment passed.

I remember on occasion my mom would sing a song. She would sing this in the car or around the house, but I especially remember hearing her sing it when I had these scary moments. A song Mosie Lister wrote in 1958 entitled, “Til the Storm Passes By”.

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,

While the storm howls above me, and there’s no hiding place.

‘Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,

Keep me safe till the storm passes by.


Chorus

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,

Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,

Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Many times Satan whispered, “There is no need to try,

For there’s no end of sorrow, there’s no hope by and by”

But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I’ll rise

Where the storms never darken the skies.

The Bible tells us that Jesus was fast asleep in a boat with his disciples when a storm quickly rose up. The disciples were frightened, but Jesus continued to sleep. They woke him up and ask, “don’t you care that were about to die?” Then Jesus sat up and spoke to the wind and the sea and said, “Peace, be still.” Mark 4:39

My parents taught me that nothing was out of the control of God’s mighty hand. If He could control the wind and water, then certainly He could control the varmints at my window.