Praying for the Lottery
We live on the border between two states. These two states participate in separate multi-state lotteries, and several times a year, the grand prize money of one of these two “super” lotteries rises to above $100 million. Last week when we drove by a billboard advertising one of these lotteries, we noticed that the jackpot was well over this mark.
The conversation in the car turned to what we would do with that kind of money. God in his mercy has granted both Abby and I generous hearts (especially when thinking about hypothetical money!). So our discussion was mainly about how we could support gospel ministry through various groups and people.
At that moment, my sin got the better of me. I wondered, “Why doesn't God grant us this money?” Unlike others who would probably spend the bulk of the prize on cars and houses, we would use it to support missions and outreach. So why wouldn't God in his wisdom fix the lottery so that we would win?
The following morning my self-righteous bubble burst. While studying the Scriptures, I was reminded of my lack of prayer. What does prayer have to do with this? Well, all the things I had hoped to do with that kind of money God can do through my prayers. The Sovereign God advances the gospel in the way that he sees fit. He doesn't need a lottery prize to accomplish his plans. If what the Bible says about God's definite plan to save the world is true, I shouldn't be spending my time hoping and wishing for grand things to happen through me; I should be praying that God will do (and will keep doing) the great things he has promised through the gospel. Our God is great and merciful: he knows what is needed and he can supply that which is so much better than $100 million, amazing as it sounds.
So now I am trying to make up for my lack of prayer. Abby and I are trying to be faithful in praying for the missionary groups we support. We are trying to be constant in bringing the needs of people involved in gospel ministry—the ones who would have been the recipients of our hypothetical winnings—before our mighty God, day by day.
Prayer just might call into action the generous heart I claim to have.