Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

Our eight month old Labrador pup has recently discovered something.

She’s a Retriever!

All of a sudden, it’s like a lightbulb has gone on and she’s worked out her life purpose.

The trouble is…she’s obsessed!

Every single morning now, without fail, she goes to her toy basket, grabs her ball in her mouth and drops it at the nearest person’s feet. Normally mine.

Whenever I have a few spare minutes, I indulge her. I throw. She fetches. That’s the game. That’s the pattern.

The speed with which she dashes after that ball is second to none. She’s in her element! She’s living her best life. Sometimes she leaps for a mid air catch! Other times the ball bounces and rebounds and she scuttles off to find it! But one thing’s for sure – she doesn’t come back without it.

And then, thud! That ball is immediately and unceremoniously dropped at my feet. Because she wants to do the whole thing again.

And again. And again.

In fact, I think she’d play this game literally all day long. I’m not even joking.

Typically, I tire of this game after around 10-15 minutes. I retreat inside and carry on with whatever it is I need to do.

Thud!

There she is again. I could be at the kitchen sink, washing up. Or upstairs making the bed. Or downstairs typing away at a story. Doesn’t matter to Honey.

She’s not finished yet. Not even close!

I try and ignore her. So she tilts her head from side to side, glancing between my face and the ball as if to say: “Pick it up and throw it! Come on! Why aren’t you playing anymore?“

“Oh Honey! Not now. I’m busy.”

Busy? Who cares. What could be more important than a game of fetch?

She’s not easily put off. She always looks hopeful. Why?

Well, I suppose because she knows I care for her and I’ve answered her requests before.

You can probably guess where I’m going with this.

If only I had the same persistence with my prayers! After all – I’m coming to a God who is never too busy to listen! A God who loves me with an everlasting love and tells me: “Cast your cares upon me, because I care for you! Yes, you can lay those heavy burdens down at my feet – with a thud!”

I’m coming to Jesus, the One who told a parable about a widow and an unrighteous judge in order to teach His disciples that they ought always to pray and never to lose heart!

Has he answered my prayers in the past? You bet ya!

Can He do it again? Absolutely!

Thanks to Honey, I’ve been reminded afresh this week that sometimes I don’t get because I just don’t ask!

Lord, help me to pray more earnestly!