By Larry Fontenot

One day in the late 1900’s, a poorly dressed woman with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food. The grocer scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store. Visualizing her families’ needs, she said, “Please sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can.” The grocer told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocery-man that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocery man said in a very reluctant voice, “Do you have a grocery list?” The woman replied, “Yes sir.” “O.K.,” he said, “put your
grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.” The woman hesitated and with a bowed head reached into her purse, took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then placed it on the scale. The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down. The grocer staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, “I can’t believe it.” The customer smiled and the grocer started putting groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he started putting groceries on them until the scales would not hold anymore. The grocery man stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. This was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said, “Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands.” The store owner gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence. The woman thanked him and left the store. The customer handed him a 50 dollar bill and said, “It was worth every penny of it.” It was sometime later that the grocer discovered the scales were broken; therefore, only God knows how much prayer weighs.

Prayer changes our lives, our circumstances, and the lives of those around us. Take time to pray today. A few minutes in prayer can change your whole day. God knows your every need. Leave all your worries and needs in His hands.

THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY THE CHALLENGER 2001, PAGES 9, 11. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.