I had the pleasure of babysitting my two granddaughters while I was at home by myself on vacation.  It wasn’t really babysitting because their mom didn’t really have to go anywhere – the girls just wanted to come over and see me.  How cool is that!  We played hide and seek, drew some pictures, watched cartoons, did somersaults on the Oriental rug and had a great time.  Okay, okay…the girls did somersaults while I just watched.  After several hours Avery the 4 year old told me that she thought they should go home because “her dogs missed her.”  We put up everything we had gotten out and the girls were ready to go except that Avery could not find one of her shoes.  We looked everywhere for that shoe! After a long time I told Avery that we should pray.  We bowed our heads and asked the Lord to help us find Avery’s shoe.  We picked up the couch pillows off the floor which had protected the girls from wayward somersaults and put the pillows back on the couch and there was Avery’s shoe peeking out from between the cushions.  I said, “Hey Avery, we prayed and we found it!”  Avery said, “Yeah…we should have prayed sooner.”  From the mouths of babes…

Prayer is a good thing.  Prayer works yet so often we rely on prayer as a last ditch resort.  That is not the way God intends things to be.  The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Is there something that is missing in your life?  Is there something that is troubling you?  Lift it up to the Lord in prayer.  Do you need wisdom, comfort, mercy, or forgiveness?  Ask God and He will provide it to you!  He will give you peace that passes all understanding.  The Lord Himself will guard your heart and ease your mind.  He will help you find all that is missing in your life.  Don’t be anxious for anything…not even a missing shoe.