Did you ever play the game ‘Kick-the-Can'? In my neighborhood, we loved that game. If you don't know what it is, google it! Basically, it's hide and seek, but to call someone out (at least the way we played it), was the person that was it, ran to the can (which was in the center of the playing area) and said ‘1-2-3 on person x’. And then the people caught could be set free if another hiding person kicked the can before the person that was it got them out. It was quite a strategy game. Anyways…
I never enjoyed being ‘it'. Because you had to walk around to find the people hiding (we played in a huge yard and at night!), yet not be too far away from the can. And as soon as you got several people caught, someone would come in and kick the can and set everyone free.
Matthew 6:33 – But seek 1st His kingdom and righteousness
Matthew 7:7 – Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find…
Luke 18:1-6 – the parable of the persistent widow
Playing Hide-n-Seek with my kids, they don't like to ‘seek' for very long. They give up quickly. What if we took the message from Luke 18 and applied it to Matthew 6 & 7? What if we kept seeking, kept asking and kept knocking? What would God do? I think in my life, I give up too often, just like my kids at hide-n-seek. And often, like in kick-the-can, I am afraid to get too far away from the comfort of the light (or power of the can) to see where God wants to use me…or bless me.
I don't think that prayer is just about asking God for blessings or getting things. He wants to communicate with us and lead us. Too often we aren't ready to venture out into the darkness and see what He really wants for us.
Maybe He is calling you to reach out to a coworker? Or encourage a missionary? Or sacrifice something so that you would have to rely on Him more.
Well, I am off. Probably need to play another game of hide-and-seek with my kids (indoors of course!!!).
PB
