Snow days! I remember when I was a child how exciting it was to get a day off from school and go sledding. Or simply get a day off last minute. My sisters, brother and I would stand by the radio or watch the television eagerly waiting that long list of closings and delays begging for our school to be called, as if we could persuade the newscaster. And, oh the joy if he did call our school; we might as well have thrown a party! My mom was a teacher, so she would be excited as well, so long as we didn't miss too many days causing them to shorten our summer. I get it when my girls are eager for snow days, and I root with them.
It was just after Christmas break, the weather got cold and snowed. The girls missed a few days and it was time to go back to school. The temperature was rising turning the precipitation to rain. Typically they call the schools off the night before around here, and they sent a message that they would reevaluate in the morning. At this point, school was open. Upon receiving this message from her dad, I hear Lilli say, "I'm going to pray that they close school tomorrow." My initial reaction was, "Really Lilli? That's not a reasonable prayer!" After saying that, the Lord convicted me, "Isn't it tho?" I corrected myself and said, "You know what? It doesn't hurt to ask Him. He can always say no." Lilli came running up to me eagerly to pray. I told her she had to ask. She closed her eyes and made a short plea to the God of the Universe. "Please God, close the schools tomorrow, so we can have one more day of fun. In Jesus Name. Amen." The weather was looking unlikely from a human's perspective. At bed time, Lilli once again says, "Mom, will you ask God too?" So I prayed as well. "God, I know you delight in your children. You are our daddy, our Abba Father. You tell us to ask anything in your name, and I know nothing is too big for you. Lilli wants one more free day, so will you close the schools for her? In Jesus Name." Okay girls, time for bed.
The morning came, and Matt comes in to tell me to go back to sleep because schools are closed. He proceeds to converse with me, "When I was a kid, I had to walk a mile to school in a foot of snow." I bet every parent says that these days! It made me chuckle as my head hit on the pillow. I smiled because I knew what God did for Lilli.
It doesn't hurt to ask.
The girls were so excited! Lilli was ecstatic that God heard her small prayer and moved on her behalf. It's even in the little things that God hears us. He says, "You have not because you ask not." He can always say no, so why not ask? He wants to give to His children as a father gives to his child. But our Father in heaven has ALL the resources. Hehe.
Jesus said, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11
Sure, it wasn't life and death or a necessity like food and water, but God wants a relationship that's more than just talking to Him when we "need" something. He wants us to love Him, like really delight ourselves in Him. He's not just our God and maker, He's your Father if you trust Him.
On a practical level, what does this look like?
Prayer is ultimately talking to God. You don't have to always close your eyes or recite a creed. Just talk to Him. He's not as far off as you may think. Jesus came down from heaven to make a way for us. Search out the Bible or ask a Christian friend to help and you will find Him.
Acts 17:27-28 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
I love when God answers our silly prayers. He's a daddy like that.
It was just after Christmas break, the weather got cold and snowed. The girls missed a few days and it was time to go back to school. The temperature was rising turning the precipitation to rain. Typically they call the schools off the night before around here, and they sent a message that they would reevaluate in the morning. At this point, school was open. Upon receiving this message from her dad, I hear Lilli say, "I'm going to pray that they close school tomorrow." My initial reaction was, "Really Lilli? That's not a reasonable prayer!" After saying that, the Lord convicted me, "Isn't it tho?" I corrected myself and said, "You know what? It doesn't hurt to ask Him. He can always say no." Lilli came running up to me eagerly to pray. I told her she had to ask. She closed her eyes and made a short plea to the God of the Universe. "Please God, close the schools tomorrow, so we can have one more day of fun. In Jesus Name. Amen." The weather was looking unlikely from a human's perspective. At bed time, Lilli once again says, "Mom, will you ask God too?" So I prayed as well. "God, I know you delight in your children. You are our daddy, our Abba Father. You tell us to ask anything in your name, and I know nothing is too big for you. Lilli wants one more free day, so will you close the schools for her? In Jesus Name." Okay girls, time for bed.
The morning came, and Matt comes in to tell me to go back to sleep because schools are closed. He proceeds to converse with me, "When I was a kid, I had to walk a mile to school in a foot of snow." I bet every parent says that these days! It made me chuckle as my head hit on the pillow. I smiled because I knew what God did for Lilli.
It doesn't hurt to ask.
The girls were so excited! Lilli was ecstatic that God heard her small prayer and moved on her behalf. It's even in the little things that God hears us. He says, "You have not because you ask not." He can always say no, so why not ask? He wants to give to His children as a father gives to his child. But our Father in heaven has ALL the resources. Hehe.
Jesus said, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11
Sure, it wasn't life and death or a necessity like food and water, but God wants a relationship that's more than just talking to Him when we "need" something. He wants us to love Him, like really delight ourselves in Him. He's not just our God and maker, He's your Father if you trust Him.
On a practical level, what does this look like?
Prayer is ultimately talking to God. You don't have to always close your eyes or recite a creed. Just talk to Him. He's not as far off as you may think. Jesus came down from heaven to make a way for us. Search out the Bible or ask a Christian friend to help and you will find Him.
Acts 17:27-28 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
I love when God answers our silly prayers. He's a daddy like that.
