All-the-time Friend
ALL-THE-TIME FRIEND
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19.
“You’ve spent a lot of time texting your friends tonight,” observed Mom as Emily put down her phone.
“We don’t know what to do about Sierra,” Emily explained. “She’s being a . . . a sometimes friend. She wants to be friends when she needs help with homework, but she ignores us the rest of the time.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Mom. “But no more texting tonight. It’s almost bedtime. Have you had your quiet time with the Lord yet?”
Emily yawned. “I’m too tired tonight,” she said. “I’ll read my Bible and pray in the morning.” She turned to go. “’Night, Mom. ’Night, Dad.”
As Emily hurried downstairs the next morning, she tripped. “Mom!” she wailed. “My ankle!” Mom hurried to help. Dear God, prayed Emily silently while her mother wrapped her ankle, this hurts so bad! Please take this pain away and make my ankle better.
Unable to walk, Emily stayed home from school. “Emily,” said Mom after making her comfortable on the couch, “you told me about how it bugs you when Sierra wants to be friends only when she needs you for something, remember?”
Emily nodded. “Friends should be friends all the time.”
“I agree with you, and I thought about that last night,” said Mom. “Remember how you spent so much time texting your friends, but you were too tired to talk to God?”
“Well, I prayed this morning,” Emily defended herself.
“Did you?” asked Mom. “About what?”
“My ankle,” said Emily quickly. Then she blushed.
“So you prayed when you needed help. Does that remind you of someone?” Mom raised her brows. “God is an ‘all-the-time’ friend,” she added. “Don’t you think it hurts Him when we’re only ‘sometimes’ friends with Him? When we talk with Him only when we need help?” Thoughtfully, Emily nodded.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you talk to God as you do to a friend, or do you pray only when you have a need? Take time to thank Him and praise Him for being your Lord. Treat Him like a good friend all the time.
TO MEMORIZE:
Never stop praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
PRAY ALWAYS.
From the book
