First /Last Resort/ Retort Report

As I look to the year ahead, I know two things that won’t change:
1. There are things I need to do more of.
2. There are things I need to do less of.

I need to always put God first. That, regardless of the situation I am facing, I must look to God first, not last:

“Prayer shouldn’t be our last “resort”. It should be our first “retort.”

I start each day with prayer, and most of the time I pray “between snoozes” before I get out of bed in the morning. Then, I start each day with that vital “alone time” in prayer and Bible study. But, I need to pray more, and study more, so that I can be more … like Jesus.

I need to continue this “attitude of prayer” all day, and I try. And, I fail. I want to always be thankful for the things I can take for granted. Things like electricity, heat, running water, etc.
We will always be tested, to allow God to show us “how we are doing.”
For example, last night, when I went to bed, it was -17 … that’s 17 degrees below zero … and, I was in a warmer spot in the North Country … I remember this morning, at about 10:00 AM, how thrilled I was that … yes … the temperature had made it all the way up to 0. It would get to around 11 degrees today (much, much warmer than yesterday) … if it had gotten to 15, I would have reached for a t-shirt …

Anyway, I noticed at around 9:30 this morning, that we didn’t have water. A few trickles downstairs, but none upstairs. If the water pipes were frozen, how many days would it be before the outside temperature would be above freezing?
My first response? Prayer? No … I called the water company. To show how small a town we live in, when you call the water department on a non-business day (today was Saturday) … the call is automatically routed to the police department … anyway, I left a message with police dispatch, and waited for a return call from whoever was on emergency call at the Water Company. My only concern was to find out if there was a problem somewhere which resulted in the Water Company shutting the water off, or if it was just my problem. In a few minutes, the Water Company called. The problem had to be a frozen pipe somewhere in the house. I thanked him for calling, and then went downstairs to check the only possible place the pipes may be exposed to an outside wall. I found the location, and, indeed, a small amount of ice had formed on the outside wall.

I mention this in detail to show that, in all this process, it never occurred to me to pray … not one time.
I was too concerned with the situation … or, really, I was too concerned trying to figure out the solution to the problem on my own, to pray. I was too busy with the circumstances; too busy looking around … to “look up” …
As I was getting a space heater to take downstairs, to place in front of the pipes, it occurred to me:
It suddenly occurred to me that often, I think enough about having running water to thank God for it … Why wouldn’t I pray to get it back? I mean, if it’s important to me, it’s important to Him…

So, I prayed … prayed for the pipes to “unfreeze.” In praying, and checking the pipes, I had to place my hands on the pipes … The pipes were cold … As I turned away to set the heater up … I heard water moving in the pipes … I thought this must be the downstairs water, as it was just a small amount of water moving in the pipes, and we did have a little running water downstairs …
Anyway, I turned on the heater, and went back upstairs. Instinctively, I turned on the water … and, it was there … full force!

I share this story to show that I need improvement in many areas, and “life” has a way of making sure to point these areas out to us. I need to think of God first, of prayer first, in every situation and circumstance that comes up. I know that God can do anything; there is nothing too hard for him. And, that includes healing. And, that includes thawing pipes … or, whatever we need.

So, yet again, a lesson to be learned. In any situation, my first reaction must be prayer. It must be the first reaction to any circumstance which confronts me.
My first response must always be prayer.
 “Prayer shouldn’t be our last “resort”. It should be our first “retort.”
I use the word “retort” in the noun usage of the word, which means “quick response; something spoken or written in reaction.”
Also, the synonyms for the word “retort” are “comeback, reply, response.”

Please let us follow the example of Jehoshaphat, as he prayed, and what a great prayer recorded in 2 Chronicles 20: “… neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee” (verse 12).

In closing, it is fitting and proper to thank, support, and praise those we respectfully call “first responders” to an emergency. And, to pray for their safety.
Yet, let us never forget that in our lives, in every situation, Jesus should be our “First Responder.”
Please let our first response be to Him, and for Him.

Blessings to you, and your family.
Richard. Vincent. Rose.