Generous people gave missionary Herbert Jackson a car to help him in his work.

            It was a major asset, but it had one difficulty—it wouldn’t start without a push or a jump-start.

             So Dr. Jackson devised a system to cope with the car’s inability to start. When he was ready to leave his home, he went to a nearby mission school and asked permission to bring some of the children out of class to help him push-start his car.

            Throughout the day, he always parked on a hill or left the engine running when he stopped for short visits.

            For two years the young missionary used what he believed was an ingenious method to start the car.

            When poor health forced the Jackson family to leave the field, a new missionary arrived to lead the mission. While Jackson explained to the new missionary his methods for starting the car, the young man opened the hood and began inspecting.

            “Why, Dr. Jackson,” he interrupted, “I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.”

            He gave the cable a twist, pushed the switch, and the engine roared to life. (Edited from Living Beyond Your Capacity, Paul Chappell)

            This little parable about powerlessness reminds me of the shaky relationship many of us have with prayer.

            We know God’s power should be working through us, but we’re too busy push-starting “the work” to ask how the Holy Spirit can step in and give us the prayer-connection we need.

            Let’s ask the Father help us tighten up that loose connection.