Start with Prayer
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. – Ephesians 6:18
There was a huge pile of clothes to wash, and the washing machine would not start! The washer was only a couple of months
old, so it should not have been in need of repair. I wondered, What could be wrong?
Digging through my file of receipts, I found the phone number for the appliance dealer who sold me the washer. I called, and was told that the soonest
appointment the repairman could make was a week away. Inwardly, I groaned. I was not looking forward to doing all five loads at the laundromat. Just
before I hung up, however, the receptionist asked me one more question, “Did you make sure your washer is plugged in?” Of course, I had not. The last
time I used it, the washer worked fine, so why would I check to make sure it was plugged in? Yet, when I went to check, I found that was, indeed, the
problem. Happily, but a little embarrassed, I thanked the person on the phone and hung up.
“Check your power source” is usually the first item on a troubleshooting list, and I had completely missed it. Reflecting on the situation later, I thought
to myself, Do we ever overlook the Power Source in our spiritual lives? On days when our patience runs short, our joy is hindered, or our peace of
mind is unsettled, is our first thought to check our connection to the One who provides those virtues? We could spend a lot of time trying to fix things
that are not broken, when we really just need to make sure we have a strong connection to the Power Source.
If circumstances are not working out and feelings of frustration are setting in, ask yourself, Did I start my day with prayer? Did I start today’s projects
with prayer? God wants us to be connected to Him every minute of every day.