The Little Hamster
Sunday night we heard a wonderful sermon about resting in
Jesus and just exactly what this means. One statement that
stood out particularly in my mind was something the speaker
quoted from a well known evangelist who was heard to say he
never prays for himself because he simply trusts God to know
and care for his needs. This gives him a lot more time to
interceed for others.
This was still fresh in my mind and I was kind of looking
for ways to try it, when I got home from work to learn that
the neighbor's hamster, who we had been caring for while
they were away on vacation, had escaped. Rob and the boys
had already spent an hour and a half looking for the little
thing, with no success. Wow. Here was my opportunity! So I
gave it to God. Then, of course, because I am still me, I
took it back and gave it to God all over again. This
happened -- well let's say, about a zillion times? And of
course, in between were several frantic searches of the
neighbor's house.
But this morning I just decided to stand on God's promises. I praised God that the hamster would be found--today! The devil kept trying to place doubt in my mind (You know, like, "maybe you could just buy them another one!" Or "What on EARTH are you going to tell those little girls???"), but I just kept coming back with the truth of God's word -- that He looks after all of His creatures, that he hears and answers ALL our prayers if we only believe, and if I only had faith the size of a mustard seed, I could move a mountain -- something far bigger than that little hamster!
Anyway, about 10:00 this morning, God told me to go over to the neighbor's house and I would find the hamster. So I went. But he wasn't there. So I cried out to God, "I thought you told me he'd be here! Am I just imagining that I am hearing your voice?"
Then I quieted down for a moment to listen for God's
answer. But I didn't hear God's voice. Instead I heard the
scratching of little hamster feet, coming from the inside
back of the neighbor's hide-a-bed couch! Well, I won't go
into the details of what I had to go through to get him OUT
of the couch, except to say that prayer played a big part of
that too . . . but praise the Lord! The hamster has been
found, and the couch is still in one piece! My friends, if
we choose to stand firm on the Word of God, taking EVERY
thought captive in obedience to Jesus by striking out all
doubt as it enters our mind, using the Sword of the Spirit
by claiming the promises of God's word, not only can we move
mountains, but we can find hamsters!
Lyn Chaffart