Pet peeve: there’s a line at a fast food restaurant and it takes about five minutes or more to reach the ordering cashier. You, and everyone else in line have had plenty of time to look at the menu and decide. For some reason the person in front of you gets to the cashier and says, “I’m not sure what I want”. Or worse, “can I change that?” (count to 10, count to 10) Does God change His mind? (Don’t answer no) God is the same in nature: love, grace, compassion, and that’s why He’s always ready to change, to answer prayer. John 4 tells the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan women by the well. As she goes to tell her people about her encounter with Jesus, Jesus’ disciples return with lunch so they can continue their journey to Galilee. Jesus says I know our plan was to go on but open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, (John 4:35-36) Minutes later the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days (John 4:40). You can’t change God’s mind. But God is continually engaging His love, grace and compassion where His people are working the harvest fields. Maybe that’s why Jesus said to pray continually and never give up!
- PK
