Hello ,

Peter Greig writes in How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People:

I was stranded in Chicago. All airplanes have been grounded by the eruption of an Icelandic volcano, and I couldn’t get home to England. I asked God how he wanted me to use the interruption. Several American friends had already been kind enough to invite me to stay, but as I prayed, I found myself thinking about a particular friend who lived 150 miles west in Madison, Wisconsin. 

"Hey, I'm in Chicago," I e-mailed. "Can I come crash on your couch?"

I didn’t know that Joe had just received terrible news, nor that his worried wife had asked, "Who do you wish you had on your couch right now?" Those had been her exact words. 

Nor that he had replied, "I wish Pete was on my couch, but I know that's crazy because he's in England, and he's never even been to our home."

The prophet Malachi says that "those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard" (Mal. 3:16). 

Sometimes God listens to our casual conversations and receives them as prayers. 

Within hours of Joe's throwaway line, I had materialized on his couch.

I often marvel at God's ability to sort things out in our lives. He has ways that we are often unable to understand, but He can be trusted.

If you have a prayer request that you would like me to lift up on your behalf, please send it my way. I am traveling, and spending significant time in a hotel over the next day.  I'd be honored to pray about your requests. 

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word