August 30, 2024 Devo

I was playing golf with a few pastor friends several years ago when I lived in Arizona. Pastors can be sweet and kind in church on Sunday, but many of us are a bit competitive when we’re with each other—especially playing golf. As we were hitting our balls up on the green on a particular hole, one of the pastors hit his ball in the sand. He was not a great sand player, but he was quite dramatic. As he approached his ball to take his shot, he began to pray loud enough for all of us to hear. “Oh Lord, have mercy on me! If you’ll let me hit a good shot out of the sand, I’ll do anything you want me to do. I’ll go to Africa. I’ll go to India. I’ll even go to Indiana. Just help me, Lord, please!” He took his swing, the sand went flying, and his ball landed nicely on the green and proceeded to roll straight into the cup. We all shouted and laughed and told him we’d go home with him after the game to help him pack!
Be careful how you pray. Every once in a while, God calls your bluff. That’s exactly what happened with Peter. I have no idea what possessed him to tell Jesus to invite him out onto the water. No one else seemed so inclined. I’ve often read this passage and asked myself how long before I would have asked Jesus that. The answer? Never! But Peter, whether out of foolishness or faith, asked Jesus to let him do something that most of us would say was impossible. Bold faith? Maybe. Brash talk? More likely. But whatever the motivation, Jesus gave the invitation. Now Peter had to put his feet where his mouth was.
So be careful how you pray. If you ask God to use you, He may put you in places that make you trust Him like you have never trusted Him before. If you tell God you’ll go anywhere He wants you to go, YOU might end up in Indiana! If you ask for strength, God may make you flex your endurance and faith muscles until you think you’re going to drop. Ask for patience…well, just don’t be stupid and ask for patience. Trust me, you won’t like the answer to that one. Just remember that God HEARS us when we pray, so be sure you MEAN what you say. And don’t be surprised when God calls your bluff. That’s God’s Word for you today.