You know that time of the year when we practise our eyelid-fluttering to the mechanic for when we drop off the car? That annual event where we drop a few innocent comments like "be gentle" or "go easy on her" and check the mobile is on and has adequate signal every 45 seconds for the whole day hoping for good news. Can't relate? Feel blessed!
For the rest of us, we may say a few more prayers than normal while the car is being tested as it could mean the difference between a takeaway or a Pot Noodle at the weekend. And therein lies the question: when do we call on the Lord? When we're on the verge of a catastrophe? When we have a health scare? When the car is in for its MOT? Or every day? I mean fervently pray, as if our lives depend on it?
Mark 11:24 tells us to believe that we will get "whatever we ask for in prayer".
1 John 5:14 says "if we ask for anything according to God's will, He hears us".
and Colossians 4:2 encourages us to "devote [ourselves] to prayer, being watchful and thankful".
There are plenty more verses besides, encouraging us to invest in our relationship with God, so that we can learn to hear Him when He talks back and to believe that He does indeed answer all our prayers.
BUT, just like a relationship which is only one-way, we can easily find ourselves in a similar boat if we only turn to God when we really want something. So, here's a challenge: starting today, right now, let's turn off the phone, ignore the emails, pause Netflix and chat to our God. Really talk to Him.
And not for our tyres to miraculously have tread in the morning...