“I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” Isaiah 65:24 (NLT)
Ruby, pregnant with her fourth child, trudged out the back door with a loaded clothes basket. She set the basket down and began washing the clothesline with a wet rag. She always did this before hanging out her wash. It was a beautiful, autumn day with a slightly warm breeze blowing. Her clothesline consisted of three rusty lines stretched between two steel posts. Each post was welded to form an upright tee. The lines squeaked each time she pinned her towels and sheets to it. A neighbor, Mr. Terry, called from his back porch, “Hey, Ruby, those lines are gonna break one of these days. You need to get one of those new fangled dryers from Sears.” Ruby just smiled and waved, then continued to hang out her wash. She knew that her family couldn’t afford a dryer right now from Sears or anybody else.
Later, back in her kitchen, she whistled and made sandwiches for her and Sylvester. The wind had increased and she could hear the wash whipping wildly in the wind. Suddenly her four year old began yelling. “Momma, the clothes are on the ground.” He ran into the kitchen from the back porch. Ruby had already dried her hands and hurried toward the backyard. Her heart sank, most of the clothes were on the ground and would need to be re-washed. To her surprise, however, Mr. Terry was already there picking up her wash. “I told you this was going to happen,” he grinned. Then he patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Ruby, I’ll have it fixed before Aubrey gets home.” He pulled pliers from his overalls and cut the other two attached lines from the post. Before Ruby could protest, Mr. Terry rolled up the rusty line and began walking toward his garage. He returned with a roll of new wire. He winked at Sylvester, “we gotta fix your momma a new dryer.” “Now Mr. Terry, I don’t have the money to pay you,” she began. Winking at the boy he said, “I’m not doin’ it for pay. I just don’t want this boy to walk around in wet clothes.” Mumbling her thanks, Ruby returned to her kitchen with tears streaming down her cheeks.
God is like Mr. Terry. He’s there answering our needs before we even ask him. He knows what to do to fix our problems even while we are still telling him about them. And he just goes ahead and begins sending the answer while our prayers are still ascending to his throne. He understands that we cannot afford to pay him, so he answers our prayers without charging a fee. Doesn’t it just make you want to shout? Hallelujah! Praise God! He is so good! All the time!
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. We can’t afford it, Father. Thank you for paying the price and providing it for us. Thank you for hearing our cries and answering our needs. Enable us to live in such a manner to honor your name and your gifts. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN
Let us praise God for answering prayer and live to his glory,
Pastor Smith