Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. --1 Peter 5:6-7
In the book, A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield and Mark Hansen use an illustration to talk about answered prayer.
The story goes that Pastor John Ramsey was used to receiving a rose boutonniere to wear on his jacket each Sunday. After services one day, a little boy came up to him and asked if he could have the rose he was wearing.
Ramsey knew it would go in the trash when he got home, so he gladly offered it to the boy and asked why he wanted it.
The boy replied, "I'm going to give it to my granny. My parents divorced last year. I was living with my mom, but she got married again and wanted me to live with my dad. I lived with him for a while, but he said I couldn't stay, so he sent me to live with my grandmother. She is so good to me—she cooks, takes care of me, and loves me—so I want to give her the rose."
Pastor Ramsey stood staring at the boy with tears in his eyes. He pointed to the large vase full of fresh flowers sitting at the altar and said, "Take those to your granny because she deserves the very best. That little flower isn't enough."
The boy's eyes lit up and he shouted, "What a good day! I asked for one flower, but got a beautiful bouquet instead!"
When we come to God with our prayers, we aren't much different than the pastor and boy in this illustration. Oftentimes, we don't notice that when we bring our pain or hurt to the Lord seeking a small remedy, He points us to a greater solution and comfort and asks us to take that instead.
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank God for the answered prayer that you so often take for granted.
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