Empower Our Activities With Prayer—Part 16
READINGS – Part 5
A PARABLE OF PRAYER
A father and his son, traveling together in a wagon,
came to the edge of a forest.
Some bushes, thick with berries,
caught the child’s eye.
“Father,” he asked, “may we stop a while
so that I can pick some berries?”
The father was anxious to complete his journey,
but he did not have it in his heart
to refuse the boy’s request.
The wagon was called to a halt,
and the son alighted to pick the berries.
After a while,
the father wanted to continue on his way.
But his son had become so engrossed in berry-picking
that he could not bring himself to leave the forest.
“Son!” cried the father, “we cannot stay here all day!
We must continue our journey!”
Even the father’s pleas were not enough
to lure the boy away.
What could the father do?
Surely he loved his son no less
for acting so childishly.
He would not think of leaving him behind but
he really did have to get going on his journey.
Finally he called out:
“You may pick your berries for a while longer,
but be sure you are still able to find me.
for I shall start moving slowly along the road,
As you work, call out ‘Father! Father!’
every few minutes, and I shall answer you.
As long as you can hear my voice,
know that I am still nearby.
But as soon as you can no longer hear my answer,
know that you are lost,
and run with all your strength to find me!”
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Space for God, Don Postema, Bible Way, page 47.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
