Me:  What are you doing Prodigal?

Prodigal:  Putting away the groceries.

Me:  Thank God for money to buy food.

Prodigal:  I always forget to thank Him for the little things sometime.

 

This story is from Breakfast for the Soul compiled by Judith Couchman

 

My husband Louie and I had many questions about asking for daily resources when we began to explore petitionary prayer.  We were in seminary, and had turned down a job with a regular paycheck so we could be free to do deputation work for the school.  We were doing what we wanted to do, and what we felt God wanted us to do–so we were happy.

Then one day we had to face the fact that we had hardly any food left…and no money to buy more.  Our need was specific, and real–so, putting our questions aside, we decided to take our need to God.  I remember how uncomfortable we felt, kneeling and praying together for something as practical and unspiritual as our next meal.  But we did it, believing that if God didn’t approve of it, He would somehow let us know.

Later in the day, during a study break, Louie walked down the hill to our mailbox and brought back a letter from a church we had visited months before.  As he opened it and read–“Sorry to be late–thanks, and God bless!”–a check for forty dollars fell to the floor.  Forty dollars!  We couldn’t have been more thrilled if it had been 400.  For it wasn’t just money, it was an answer to a specific asking prayer—and for us, a new understanding of what it meant to pray for our daily bread.

 

Psalm 78:25

Man did eat angels’ food:  he sent them meat to the full.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org