One of the great joys of being the Christian Car Guy is I get to call the applicants of the Jesus Labor of Love, (car repair for single mom’s, widows and families in crisis). When they answer, I often get the sense I’m speaking to Annie from the musical, Annie, (It’s A Hard Knock Life). That is to say, “Instead of treated we get tricked, instead of kisses we get kicked, It’s a hard knock life!” A person who has been beaten down and taken advantage of too many times, no wonder they don’t trust me and are often skeptical of what we are all about. I ask them to tell me what is going on with their car, and then God gave me this years ago, ask them right then and there if it’s OK if we pray.

I have never had anyone to turn me down, then God gave me this amazing prayer format to go by, I say, “Heavenly Father, thank you for Marjorie (the applicants name), thank you for her courage to ask for help, thank you Father that they are trying to take care of their family and provide safe transportation. Father we need your wisdom your help to know what to do and thank you that I know You want to meet Marjorie right here in her point of need and You want her to know You care and You will take care of her and I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.”

I wouldn’t believe this if I had experienced it so many, many times, more often then not, the applicant will have gone from the ‘Hard Knock’ attitude to tears. That prayer touches their heart in a way that really it doesn’t touch mine. So this week, I was really jealous as I experienced that very thing several times, I was like, “God, why are they feeling this so deeply to the point of tears and I am not?”

His answer was, “the applicants are poor in spirit.” The amazing wisdom He told me the rich young ruler in Mark 10:21  “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me“.

When you have nothing but God, your are poor in spirit and when Jesus meets you at that place, tears flow. Not just financially, my father and friend who lost their wives, they were destitute nothing, no money, nothing meant anything to them, but God and the tears came. When Bob Young lost his son Rob, poor in spirit that doesn’t even seem to communicate the place where these three men where, but no doubt they had God and God had them and the tears came.

So many things can fill us up, our pride, our wealth, our works, our family, but praise God He know how to break us so He can bless us. When were you poor in spirit didn’t know how you would ever get out of that car problem, house problem, family problem, grief. Do you remember when God came, the tears came and you knew Jesus saw you… Blessed are you for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven.