It’s becoming spring, the temperature is rising, the sun is shining bright, the warmth is getting better, and the clothing we select to wear is thinner and lighter—–SO, WE’VE REACHED THE DAY!  LET’S GO (TODAY) AND BUY A WINTER COAT.
Maybe we think, “Now that’s just crazy!!  Buy a coat—-NOW?—-when clearly we should have bought our winter coat during (you know) the winter, and clearly, we won’t need the coat until next October or mid November, and NO, there’s not a super sale pulling us into the coat section, causing us to want to buy our coat; we are just NOW—-getting around to buying our winter coat—-Today——-
After the winter cold has passed,
After the heavy snow has all be shoveled away and is hopefully finished,
After the tulips have poked their tops through the ground,    &
After the cold north wind has stopped chafing our skin——
Now (on this day  &  at this moment) we believe it is the perfect time to purchase our winter coat.
CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is this Pure foolishness !!!!!! Is this really the BEST TIME to buy our winter coat, even before we need our coat?
Maybe others will say, “We should have been smarter than that…..Surely! ! !”    & Maybe we somewhat agree. We know that we needed our winter coat back in January, February, and March, back when the cold winter winds were blowing through us.
And just now, just today,……..this is the day we finally put aside our day’s agenda and head off to the store to purchase our winter coat.     

So picture what this day will look like (the day we FINALLY decide to go shopping for the needed winter coat).

We wear our shorts and favorite summer t-shirt to the department store where the winter coats are hanging to buy, and maybe we even decide to wear our sandals——to buy our winter coat!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, that’s right.  See it in our minds.    Summer shades cover our eyes, covering yesterday’s suntan on our face, sandals cover our tanned feet, we wear our favorite t-shirt that feels so comfortable, and our shorts….we wear the ones that fit just right…….AND we head off to the store to buy our winter coat!!!  
We arrive, walk into the store, see the coat rack off to the side, almost hidden in the far corner by the racks of spring sales, and THERE, we see what we have come to buy——the many “leftover winter coats.”
We thumb through the choices, maybe half interested, maybe even slightly hopeful to find the perfect one, but we know we probably came too late. We are not even sure if we will really need the coat today.
We just want to be ready….. you know…..in case winter comes early. We just want to…..you know……to be ready for the next chill. We just think it’s a good plan……you know……to be ready…….for the next time. We just think it’s a good idea…….you know…….to have a new coat on hand……..ready……..you know—-just in case.
We make our purchase, carry it home, and hang it in the proper place, READY……..the front closet, the “coat closet” the one situated by the front door, fully aware that we won’t need the purchase for (like) six more months.
QUESTION: Why do we approach our prayers like buying a winter coat?
QUESTION: Why do we call upon God as if HE is a last resort?
QUESTION: Why do we, God’s children, call on God—-last—-when we clearly know God is our first choice, our steady hope, and our anchor?
God’s Word is clear……so clear.   God has given us life examples of real people who came before us, people just like us, people who did not always make the best decisions, and people who learned from God every day.
Martha was such a lady.   She had a brother, one who became sick, to the point of death.  Jesus knew Martha and Mary’s brother Lazarus was so sick, and Jesus tarried in coming to their home in Bethany.   Jesus tarried, BUT God’s truth was going to be revealed in Jesus, the Son of God’s tarrying to arrive.   Jesus came four days AFTER Lazarus had already died and was buried,   &
Jesus arrived JUST ON TIME!!!!
“Martha then said to Jesus, “LORD, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 
Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
Jesus said to her,  “Your brother will rise again”  (John 11:  21-23).
Prayer is timely……Just on time.
Prayer is power-filled……Jesus interceding to God for believers’ requests.
Prayer is necessary…….Through prayer we see God’s hand upon our life, upon others, and upon everything. 
Prayer is a faith-walk……..When we pray we trust.
Prayer is our first place we should go……..Knowing God’s got our THIS, despite the heaviness of our this.

Let us today, not treat our opportunity to talk with God as a last minute coat sale, as an afterthought, as a coat rack pushed in the corner, as something we don’t need for our today. AND, Let us not postpone what we will need every day, the warm, calm, peaceful days of April and then (later) in six months, when times are more difficult and the winter winds seem to blow right through us. Yes, truly, Let us NEVER postpone our daily prayers. Every day is a GREAT DAY TO TALK TO GOD!!!
Those who have chosen to accept God’s salvation, who believe in His resurrection, and who confess that they are lost without Jesus Christ as their Savior and LORD—-Yes, US—-We are to go to God in prayer……EVERY DAY, not just in the times of distress, as an afterthought. 
Prayer is our opportunity, right now, on both the easy spring days, on the summer days, during the days of autumn, and on the winter days of darkness. Every day is a GREAT DAY TO TALK TO GOD!!!

Just as Martha knew Jesus had arrived four days late, and just as she had already attended her brother’s funeral, STILL Martha also believed Jesus could do anything (even four days AFTER her brother Lazarus was already dead).  “Even now I know whatever You [Jesus] ask of God [the Father] God will give You” (John 11:22).
Even Now……
Even Now that the winter storm is over.
Even Now……Jesus intercedes to the Father, to our God…..for Each of US.   May we continually call upon Jesus, and may we fully trust Him, our Savior and LORD!!!