Dear Children of God,

“Mom!” the child whines at 5:30PM, “Can I have a cookie?!” Mom stops. She thinks. She answers. The answer depends on many things. Does she have a cookie? When is dinner? Has her child had a cookie or two already? Based on her child’s best interest, Mom says … No matter what she says, “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait,” her response is an answer. It may or may not be the one the child wants, but it’s an answer because, as we all know, “Mom knows best.”

When God’s children ask Him for something, it’s called prayer. James, as part of his extensive teaching on how we are to live our lives of faith, urges us to follow God’s frequent direction to us to pray. To come to Him with our needs and desires. James writes, “Is anyone among you suffering … cheerful … sick?”  Then pray, pray for others, call for others to pray for us – “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:13-16)

Like the proverbial mom considering her child’s late afternoon request, God hears our prayers and answers. However, the answer may not be as we desire. God might say, “Yes.” But, even when He says, “No”  (like He did to Paul when Paul asked to have a thorn removed from his life (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)) or “Wait, I’ve got something better waiting” (like when Paul had a desire to preach in Asia and Bithynia (Acts 16:6-10)), those are answers to our prayer. And as His children, obedient to the 1st Commandment, we trust God’s answer is what is best for us. After all, He has a plan for us to use the gifts He’s given us in the times and places and among the people He places us in.

So, let us go to Him in prayer in all things. And then, follow His direction, trusting He knows what’s best for us. It’s one way we show our love for God as He leads us through this life into eternal life.

                                                                                                In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                                Pastor Jim