Pencil Points

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18)

Did you know that 50 years ago the average price of a gallon of gas was $.24?  24 cents!  It cost me $2.32 a gallon earlier this week and that was the lowest price I could find.  The higher prices have stretched our family budget and I am sure they are stretching many of yours too.  Some folks, especially those of us who have larger vehicles, don’t even get the car full of gas when the pump cuts off at $75.00.  What’s a person to do?  One of the things many of us have done is to make fewer trips out so our gas will last as long as possible.  Others have had the mechanical condition of the car’s engine and tires checked so they can optimize their gas mileage. 

Like the mechanical condition of a car, we should be checking the state of our own spiritual condition so we can optimize our “mileage” too.  The fuel that makes the Christian life possible, that brings us into contact with our Heavenly Father and helps us understand His will for us is prayer.  As you might have noticed, the Christian life can be very challenging and tiring at times.  In his first epistle, Peter reminds us that these daily tests are part of a normal Christian walk.  “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (Peter 4:12).  In fact, we are to be joyful that we are counted worthy to face these trials for the sake of our Savior.  The only way we can be emotionally and spiritually prepared to face these daily challenges is to make sure that we have spent the necessary time on our knees preparing to fight the battle.

So, if you find yourself struggling along today having burned up the last of your spiritual fuel or you just need a spiritual boost, I point you to our great God.  Go to Him in prayer, not just today but every day, and ask Him for the strength and wisdom needed to faithfully walk in a manner that is worthy of Him.  As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “to be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”  

Pax tibi!