The Ultimate Multi-Tool

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until this violent storm is past. - Psalm 51:1

I have a little tool that hangs on my belt. It has a knife, scissors, screwdrivers, pliers, picks, awls…all kinds of tools. Some of the things on this wonderful device have uses that I’m not sure of. When I was in the military, I knew enough to watch the old timers and follow their example. I noticed that the young bucks usually had huge bowie knives - a la Rambo. They wielded these blades that might as well have been machetes. However, they were limited in their uses. Most of the old timers, on the other hand, carried these little multi-tools. They were useful in setting or defusing explosives. You could open up a can of food, or perform simple repairs to your gear. They were light and they were almost endlessly useful.

Prayer can be the ultimate tool. It can disarm the most difficult enemy. It can give you strength you never knew. Use prayer before an important meeting to predispose the other person’s heart to you. Use it to gain insight and discernment into a particularly pernicious, interpersonal problem. It can be used to protect you on long journeys. It can provide an outlet when you are frustrated with life’s little aggravations. Some people who possess more wisdom than average even use prayer to get God to point out their sin and character flaws so they can improve themselves.

We often limit the use of prayer to thanking God for the food. Sometimes we even neglect that. If I could offer you a biochip that you could attach to your brain and would give you all the knowledge of the world instantly, wouldn’t you want it? I would. But prayer is just such a thing. Through prayer you get direct access to the ultimate source of truth and wisdom. But greater than mere knowledge or insight, you get action. It’s like having the ability to call in air strikes on life’s problems. A simple little radio call and you get amazing power and influence. Most of us carry this ability around with us and let it grow rusty with disuse. What a shame to have the ultimate tool and not even be a handy man.