March 24

Prayer

We all Scream for Ice Cream!

“Each time he said, ‘No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows
up best in weak people.’ Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am
glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my
own power and abilities.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (TLB)

God is always teaching me about trusting Him to provide. I often learn
through my friend, an Indian woman who lives in the Democratic Republic
of Congo. She has five children and makes a meager living. Her
husband is in jail in Dubai (do-BIE). Her faith is simple yet remarkable.
She trusts in God to provide everything—and I do mean everything.
In the Congo, the sidewalks roll up around 6 p.m., and everyone just
stays at home. It’s during this time that my friend prays and teaches her
children about God’s power to provide. One night, she shared that her
stomach ulcer was painful. She also mentioned that ice cream might
help settle it down. But the family didn’t have money to buy ice cream—
if the stores had even been open. Besides, finding ice cream in the store
is a challenge!

One of her kids asked what he could do. My friend replied, “Let’s
pray for my stomach and pray that God would provide for my need.”
Her 6-year-old prayed earnestly for ice cream. Ten minutes later,
the phone rang. A neighbor called to say he had leftover ice cream from
a party and wanted to know if they could use it.

My friend sang the “Hallelujah Chorus” and told her neighbor, who
was not a Christian, that the ice cream was a direct answer to prayer.
On the phone, she told the story of how God provides for her family
—even for the simple things like ice cream.

—Debbie, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa

Jehovah-Jireh, You are the provider of my needs. Thank You that I can trust You
in this area of my life. Continue to show Your goodness to this dear sister in
the DRC and others like her. Amen.

Next day