Another day for prayer, another reason to be Thankful

Another day for prayer, another reason to be Thankful

It is when we realize that our prayers have been answered that we respond with thanks for God’s love at every turn in life.  There may be some moments that he does not hand us the grace we so badly want, but he always comes through when we least expect the blessings we did not seek; however it was the very answer to what we needed.  

That is the surprise when the Lord steps in and pulls us away from disaster before we are hurled out of this life or it cripples our tenacious ability of falling as a broken reed or snuffs out our candle.  “A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench.”  (Is 42: 3).  (from the first Suffering Song).

It is the very moment that God,keeping his eyes on us, reaches in and wipes away a drooping spirit that he wipes away those tears when all around us is an unwanted attack from anything that’ll remove his grace.  It is us here, in the moment of failure that we know his Spirit never left our side.  

There may be obvious times that we might not understand the severity of a need until we are up against a problem that we cannot escape from and the Holy Spirit will direct our movement towards calling down his very presence to lift us up and cover the wounded heart that pleads for mercy.  It is here that God’s grace reaches into our finiteness and a divine touch heals our broken spirit without too much effort from us.

Jesus warned his disciples about praying where and when there is a crowd to see and hear us.  “When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.”  (Mt 6: 5 - 8).  It isn’t those who are in dire straits that this saying was about, but to the disbelievers who would mock Christ and his message of mercy towards his needy flock.  Even then, during the mission of Jesus Christ , who came to redeem the fallen members of Israel there were many who, like the citizens of Noah’s day, and   the centuries since Christ was here, will not accept the mission that he brought to our planet.   

On the one hand, we are told to ask the Father in my name and all will be given to you.  “Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.  And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.”  (Jn 14: 12 - 14).  

Everyday, we may discover, it can become a need for prayer.  And the response from God will be a reason for our thankfulness.  

Ralph B.Hathaway