Several years back, Mayre and I took a Christian financial course put out by Larry Burkett, now Crown Financial Ministries. We then facilitated a group study in our church on a number of occasions. I guess this then made us "experts" in this area, and we are called upon occasionally to give guidance to people in the church who have financial questions or problems.
Yesterday, at church, I was approached by some folks between the two services, and asked to sit in on their ad hoc meeting. This group was concerned about a lady, struggling to make ends meet, and in danger of losing her home. What they most wanted to know was how they could help, and so they asked me for some advice.
So, I responded by trying to clarify some things about the situation, and suggesting that they get more information in some areas, so they could make an informed decision about a plan of action.
As the meeting was about to close, I was brought up short by one of the women in the group when she proposed that we pray for the lady in question and about a response to her needs. It was the most important thing that we could do for her, and we had just spent many minutes discussing, with our worldly wisdom, how to handle the need.
Thinking about this again this morning as I read the following in Chambers' devotion:
"We can remain powerless forever, as the disciples were in this situation, by trying to do God's work without concentrating on His power, and by following instead the ideas that we draw from our own nature. We actually slander and dishonor God by our very eagerness to serve Him without knowing Him."
Then the questions come:
Why is prayer the last thing I turn to?
Why do I not know its power?
Do I really know the Source?
Deep down, do I really think it works?
When the power cord is lying there in full view, why don't I just plug it in?
Lord, I believe, help my unbelief...
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