Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)
My golf game was declining, and my frustration was increasing. I had tried reading articles from golf magazines, getting advice from friends, and watching quick tips on the internet, all of it to no avail. In 60 years of playing golf, I had taken exactly one lesson 25 years ago. But I decided it was time.
I contacted a golf pro and prefaced my request with a summary of my situation: “I’m in my late 60s and don’t want a major overhaul. Do you think you could watch me swing and maybe give me a couple of tips that might help my game?” I was glad to hear him say he understood and thought he could help.
After watching me swing for 10 minutes, he pointed out some opportunities. A broader stance…more body turn… an alignment adjustment. Even though he kept it simple as promised, I was surprised how many things needed improvement. But then it dawned on me that he hadn’t made any comments about my grip. Trying to be humorous and hoping for a compliment, I smiled and said, “So my grip looks pretty good?” Jim paused for several seconds and said, “Well…it’s not bad.” Even though it was a partial compliment at best, I had to laugh. At least there was one thing that didn’t require an adjustment, not immediately, anyway.
This story reminded me of how I have often approached problems in life. Whether it is a challenge with work, family, or friends, I try to solve the issue on my own. Sometimes I get lucky and figure things out by myself. But many times, after I have tried multiple options with no success, I will finally lift the situation in prayer and ask for guidance from God.
First, we must lift our petition to God…second, we must be persistent.
As I have reflected on this, it doesn’t make any sense. To use a football analogy, it’s using prayer as a fourth down Hail Mary when it should be the first play called in the huddle. The great Christian pastor and author A. W. Tozer said, “some prayers are like a fire escape, used only in times of emergency – never very enjoyable, but used as a way to escape from disaster.”
The Bible offers us some good guidance about the importance of prayer. First of all, we need to lift our petition to God: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7). And second, we need to be persistent: “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1). To pray is the most frequent command in scripture, even more than ‘love your neighbor.’ Why? Because prayer is the primary way, we get to know God. It should always be our first option.
If you are having challenges with your golf game, consider going to a pro for guidance. If you face difficulties in life, pray to the Lord. God created us, so He knows us better than we know ourselves. He will not only give us the guidance we need but also peace and comfort.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you’ve given us a great privilege to come to you in prayer. Please help us to continually seek your guidance in all matters, big and small. Amen