Pray Continually

Oct. 14, 2019 Monday Message:

“Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5:16-18 NIV

Construction workers left our backyard gate open last Friday, and our little Boston Terrier Gracie went missing. This isn’t a good thing – Gracie is an indoor lap dog who has no business sleeping outside, and it was just starting to snow. She has a fur coat, but it’s not very thick. We posted on all the “lost dog” web pages, but no results, so she spent Friday and Saturday nights outdoors.

On Sunday morning I went to church while my wife stayed home to put up “lost dog’ posters. At church I told everyone what had happened, and before the service, as the Worship Team gathered in prayer, a few people prayed that Gracie would come home to us. In a way, it seems kind of silly. Shouldn’t we be praying for new Christians or World Peace or something of significance, not a lost dog? But I appreciated the kind thoughts, and have to admit that I too had prayed for Gracie’s return.

During our church service, the phone in my pocket vibrated – my wife texted that Gracie was home, safe and sound! As my wife finished with the lost dog posters, someone pulled up in front of our house and asked, “Is this your dog?” She wouldn’t come in, and refused the reward money. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not!

I later found out that our grandson Mason, who lives near Mexico City, prayed at breakfast that Gracie would come home to us. Which prayer worked? Perhaps ALL of them!

God has all the time in the world. He can answer big prayers, little prayers and even prayers about seemingly insignificant matters. God just wants you to talk to him – He desires a relationship with you - He wants to be included in your daily life. No detail is too small.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We welcome the tour from New Hope Center. Guest Speaker Dan Pilla teaches Biblical financial freedom - Parable of the Talents.