Whaaaaaat????

A Lesson Learned: by Robin Thomas

“Meeeeeeeeeeeow, meeeeeeeeeeow, meeeeeeeeeeeeeeow,” he says. as he follows me around every corner and through every doorway. And my response is, “Whaaaaaat???”

My cat, Finn, is a black and white tuxedo rescue cat. I like to call him a “dog-cat.” You know, the kind of cat that acts more like a dog; is right in the center of everything you do. We got Finn from Animal Control via Rodie’s Feed in Clayton (our family business) and he has pretty much run the household since day one.

Finn gets what Finn wants because Finn is the loudest. Finn eats 20 times a day and must be escorted to his dish each time. He also wants to drink his water fresh out of the faucet so he will let you know that too. And sometimes he just wants you to pick him up for his daily “kitty love.”

Finn gets what Finn wants because we love him.

Pastor Doug Heisel’s devotion this morning was on PERSISTENT PRAYER. It made me think of Finn and his persistence in getting what he wants.

In Luke 18:1-8 Jesus told the parable of the PERSISTENT WIDOW:

A widow constantly bugged a judge to give her justice against her adversary. She was so persistent that he finally gave her justice in order to get her off his back.

Jesus says, “...So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man (Jesus) returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Jesus tells us to pray persistently. Keep asking. Don’t give up.

Pray for that unbelieving spouse.

Pray for that wandering child to come back to the Lord.

Pray for a way to pay the debt.

Just keep praying!

Now, if Finn meows his head off to go outside after dark, will I let him?

Absolutely not, because he could be a Coyote snack.

Likewise, God will not grant us requests that will harm us because He loves us.

That is why he says that when you seek Him first, He will grant you the desires of your heart. (Matt 6:33)

Let’s face it, if you seek Him first, the desires of your heart are going to be what He wants for you.

REMEMBER, God will not answer 100% of the prayers you don’t pray!

On the flip side, how many times does Jesus have to knock at the door of your heart before you will let him in?