Craig Clouston

 

In Faith

February 6

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Matthew 21:22

Doug was in the first year of his pastorate at Faith Hill Fellowship. One of his responsibilities was facilitating a weekly drug-rehab meeting in the church’s basement. After loading a box of supplies into the back of the van, Doug, and his wife, Linda, climbed in for the ten mile trip to the church.

Doug noticed the gas gauge read empty. “That’s strange,” he commented.

“What’s strange?” she asked.

“I filled the tank yesterday, now it’s empty.” Realization dawned, “Somebody broke into the garage and siphoned our gas last night!”

“No way!” Linda wasn’t sure if she was more mad than scared over the sanctity of their home being violated.

Doug forced himself to focus on the immediate problem…he began to pray, “Lord, we need to be at this meeting. I ask that You restore what the thief has stolen. Please cause what gas is left in the tank to get us there. Amen.”

“You can’t be serious!” Linda argued. “We’ll never make it!”

“God’s word says that if we believe, we have what we ask for. I believe He’ll get us there,” he said pragmatically. So, pulling out of the garage, they put feet to their faith. As they drove the gauge never moved. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the church without incident. Opening the van’s back door to get the box, Doug was amazed to find a $20 dollar bill lying beside it. It hadn’t been there when he’d loaded the box! Besides stretching the gas, God had mysteriously provided for a tank of gas too!

†

Doug and Linda will never forget the way God answered their prayer. It is well they shouldn’t; it was answered exactly as they had believed for in faith!

Stories like Doug and Linda’s are not uncommon. Divine arrangements are no big deal for the Creator of the Universe. Our expectations, however, tend to lack unyielding belief. We generally give up before the manifestation.

God is interested in teaching us about His nature, and will go about doing that in wonder-filled ways that stretch both us…and our faith. Would you, in faith, be willing to ask, expecting His answer?

Prayer

“Lord, Your word says I should ask believing. Help me believe. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”