Corn needs rain to grow.  It’s so important for my corn that I pray for this rain.  But not seven inches in two days!  Who prayed for that!

Growing up on the farm a generation ago, it always seemed to me that we were at the mercy of God and nature.  I remember many times before eating a meal we would give thanks.  Everybody always did the “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food”.  But also our family would pray for rain.  There was an elderly lady in our church who refused to pray for rain.  Never would do it. Didn’t matter how dry it was, or if the peas were dying, or the hay dryin’ up to nothing.  She wouldn’t pray for rain.  She believed that God knew what He was doing, so He would send rain and sunshine when He saw fit.

Well, when I “see fit” to wanting and needing something, I ask God for this in prayer.  I mean ask ye shall receive, right?  “Well Lord, my corn needs water.  Can you send me a rain to help me grow this crop?  Thank You.  Amen.” ……………… and then it floods seven inches.  Hhmmm.

Back at the dinner table, we also prayed for sunshine.  Then we thanked Him whether the sun shined or not.  That was the confusing part.  We asked for something and would then turn around and thank Him for what we got, or didn’t get.  Honestly we gave thanks no matter what type of weather we were going through.  Being even more honest than that,……….. when the tornado hit one of our barns and carried it away, we gave thanks.  The winds carried the barn piece by piece over several miles.  We never did find where most of the tin and boards were carried. (Probably still flying around somewhere)

Now we didn’t give thanks for the tornado.  We gave thanks that He was with us during this time.  The confusing part back then is making more sense to me nowadays.  We asked for things, stuff, rain, sunshine, and that our favorite football team would win. (they needed prayin’ for)  We prayed for little everyday things.  We prayed for great big events that were happening in our lives.  We prayed for the sick, for the military, for our leaders of the country.  No matter what the situation good or bad, we prayed.

1 Thessalonians 5: 17-18  pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

God’s will is for us to have a loving, living relationship with Him.  A great way to grow this relationship is by praying………all the time……… And giving thanks………for everything.  This Christian walk with God would make a good Western movie. The good, the bad, and the ugly…….  He’s there with me in all circumstances. He knows what’s best for me AND YOU!  He knows already what I need. But His will is for me to talk TO Him, and to listen TO Him. That’s why I pray.  So, can you pray too much hoping for too much of a blessing?  I don’t think so. Hmmm…..  I’ll talk to God about that. But I’ll also listen to Him.

Here’s a picture of my corn growing at the mercy of my Lord. Thank you Lord!