My Aunt Martha was a Sunday School Superintendent. Every Sunday she taught a lesson. I still remember her teaching about prayer. “If you’re late going to school, don’t kneel down in the street and pray that God would stop the bell from ringing. God’s not going to do that. Maybe you could pray while you’re running that God will make you run fast enough to get there in time.”

My aunt’s approach to prayer was practical. It’s important to pray, but don’t ask God for anything stupid. I have had to cope with her teaching ever since.

As a pastor I have often prayed for people facing terrible situations. I have prayed for healing for people when it was impossible for that person to be healed. Was I praying for a miracle? I don’t know. I think I was praying for something I knew would happen, that God would keep the person in love. That’s still what I do–pray for people even though it’s not going to happen that God will give me exactly what I pray for.

On the other hand there are some prayers I won’t offer–the ones in which I am tempted to ask God to take care of something when I decline to do what I could do. I have to caution myself–don’t ask God to do what I’m supposed to do. That’s like praying for God to stop the bell from ringing.

Important Prayer Lesson No. 2. It’s good to ask for God’s help, but don’t ask God to do your job for you.

Read Colossians 4:2  and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne