Chris Prays an Honest Prayer.

As Chris knelt beside his bed for night prayers, his mom heard him say: “Dear Jesus, please help me and my baseball team win this Saturday. It’s our championship game.  Help me just this once Jesus!  You know I love you and try to be good.  But most of all, remember that I’ve never really asked for much before today. You can check your records if you want.  Amen”

Twelve-year-old Chris prays quite an honest prayer, doesn’t he.  Chris wants his team to win their big game.  But the best part of Chris’ prayer is that he wanted God to know he hadn’t asked for much until now.  He was saving the “big ask” for something like his baseball team’s championship!  Chris was so convinced of his asking record, that God could even check his record if he wanted!

Don’t we wish our past record of asking God for things was as sparse as Chris’s was?  But if we are like so many, it’s not.  We are constantly filling our prayers with all kinds of things we think we need to make our lives better, happier, or easier. Unlike twelve-year-old Chris, we pray intently for everything and anything.  Probably with this same ending: “Lord if you grant this, I’ll never bother you again. I promise.”

But in reality, we always need God’s help.  Our life situations change often and quickly. But we needn’t worry about praying for God’s help; God truly likes to be asked.

We are fortunate to have a loving God who never stops wanting to give, and probably never checks our request record.  God willingly grants anything that will make our lives better and holier. God’s only caveat is while we pray for what we want, God gives us only what we need.

 God desires one thing in return: that we be grateful!  Gratitude is after asking that we say one big “Thank you.”  This is a lesson we can all learn in life, and Chris will too whether he wins or not.

Painting: Do you think to pray? Jon McNaughton, Artist