Daily Devotional October 30, 2020

Rerun of Daily Devotional October 17, 2018

In 2011, the drought was so bad I promised God that if he ever allowed it to rain again, I would never complain about too much rain.  This past week, I have gotten close.

This summer, the lack of rainfall caused tanks to run dry, farmers to lose their crops, and hayfields to burn up.  Because of this, many ranchers thinned their herds knowing that the price of hay this coming winter would be exorbitant. 

Every day, in my prayers, one of the many things I would list was the need for rain.

Now, with this past week’s rains, my dried up tanks are overflowing, the winter oats have plenty of water, and instead of a sickly brown color, my grass is deep hunter green.

My newest problem is not the lack of water but too much water as I look at the erosion happening in one field.  I think I will stop praying for rain.

In looking at my prayer life, I’m pretty sure God has come to the conclusion that I am schizophrenic because at one moment I ask for one thing and then later I ask for the exact opposite.  Luckily, God is able to handle a nuts prayer life like mine.

But I know out of all the things I do, praying to God is the most important.  Because it is by my intentional drawing closer to God that gives me peace, guidance, and the enables me to stay focused and pointed in the right direction in the midst of such a distracting, hectic world.

If you find yourself needing  strength, wisdom, patience, peace, a new attitude, new priorities, clarity, or joy, the answer is to pray.  And if you are struggling and don’t even know what to pray, then simply follow Jesus’ instructions:

“Pray then in this way:

Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name.
    Your kingdom come.
    Your will be done,
        on earth as it is in heaven.
     Give us this day our daily bread.
     And forgive us our debts,
        as we also have forgiven our debtors.
     And do not bring us to the time of trial,
        but rescue us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13)

If you are not a person of prayer and you want a better life, the answer is simple, become a person of prayer.  It will be the best decision you ever make.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, give me a hunger for prayer.  Help me to begin and end each day talking to you.  Give me wisdom, strength, and the patience to live out this day as you follower.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

One last thing, in your prayers, I ask that you don’t pray for rain.  We are good there.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.

Tom Robbins