It is no secret that most dogs love car rides. Well, our dogs fall into that category too. Anytime I walk over to the key rack, or go through the routine they’ve come to know as me getting ready to get into the car, they leap with excitement! It’s another chance for them to stick their heads out of the car window and feel the wind hitting them in their face. Another chance for them to smell new smells, go on an adventure, and enjoy the life of a dog!
We have a local drive through coffee shop that is our favorite and that we love to take them there too. The coffee is tasty and reasonably priced in this economy, the baristas are friendly and they excitedly give the dogs all sorts of attention. On a day where there is no car behind us they will take even more time to talk with us and love on the dogs. It is a small mom and pop place that is veteran owned with a large American flag on the building as well as an American flag on the coffee sleeves; our type of place for sure! The dogs love it because they get a dog treat from the workers every time. As soon as we pull in, they will perk up with anticipation knowing what is coming next! When we get up to the window, the girls will laugh as they watch the dogs drool all down the outside of the car while they wait for their treat! Ranger will pace back and forth between the car window and us to see if his treat magically appeared yet, while Ruger will sit stalking them from the car window. The moment finally arrives and they receive their dog treat! They happily scarf it down, as dogs do, with a sense of joy! Their day is now complete according to them.
What this drive through has taught them is that any time we drive up to a window where there are people, it means there is a treat for them (whether there is or not). You see, they come EXPECTING!! They have a faith that tells them to believe they have received it before they even do. As soon as they get to a window they are believing for a treat and doing their normal waiting for it to come routine. Sometimes though, even through all their faith and excitement, they don’t receive that treat. They don’t always get what they want; but, that never stops them from coming to the window EXPECTING and believing before receiving EVERY time! They simply put their heads back out of the window as we drive away and still enjoy the wind on their face without letting the lack of a treat kill their spirits. No, they still have so much to be happy and grateful for!
What about us and our prayer lives? Do we come EXPECTING God to hear us and answer our prayers? Do we believe that we received it before we even do? Do we come expecting God to hear us every time? Do we have faith that we are going to get that dog treat even if it isn’t now, when we feel we should, but it is in God’s timing? Are we pacing back and forth from the window with excitement (or jumping up and down screaming Amen, Thank You, and Hallelujah) after we pray because we KNOW He is going to answer us? Do we still stick our heads out of the window to enjoy the wind and appreciate and be grateful for what we have when we get a wait or a no answer? Wow, what we can learn from dogs!
Jesus tells us to believe we’ve received it before we even do and that all we need is faith the size of a mustard seed. In Matthew when the centurion was asking Jesus to heal his servant, Jesus said that he would come and heal him. The servant replied saying Jesus only need to speak it and it would be done. Jesus told the centurion that He has not encountered such a strong faith and told the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have BELIEVED, so let it be done for you (Matthew 8:13).” God knows what we need before we even ask, but he wants us to ask and he wants us to believe in him. How about the account of the woman who KNEW that if she touched his cloak she would be healed? Jesus said to her, “daughter your FAITH has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction (Mark 5:34).” These are just two powerful accounts of Jesus healing on their belief and their faith.
So let’s be bold in our prayers and come EXPECTING that dog treat every time! Let us NOT think that the answer to that payer is not for us or that we are not worthy, because that is what grace is all about. That prayer answer IS for you children of God, brothers and sisters! We need to walk it out in faith, believing that God will answer! Come with the expectation of answered prayers! Jump for joy after praying and thank God for Him answering you, sing him praises of Hallelujah, lift up His name! Show him your faith and belief, and if you are praying for healing, do what you couldn’t do before expecting it to be healed! Move that stiff arm up and down after praying knowing that it actually will move well! Bend over EXPECTING there to be no more pain in your back! BELIEVE!
We serve a great and almighty God, give him the glory and praise always. Have faith brothers and sisters, our God hears us. Be blessed!
(love this photo found on pinterest! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1759287338861279/)
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