cheriehill
01-15-2007, 02:59 PM
What if your cell phone rang and the Caller ID screen read, “God calling.” What if you received a text message from God, or an email with a message from, God@heaven.net.? In a world of high speed communication technology and wireless connections, God has given us a method of communication with Him that far surpasses that of the latest hand held device, it’s called Prayer.
God’s Prayer “network” doesn’t come with any sales gimmicks or competitive calling plans, although He does offer “unlimited calls” and “24 hour customer service.” He simply offers the most reliable communication with Him, at all times. (No dropped calls on account of His service.)
If I asked you, “When do you pray?” some might say, before meals, before bed, at church, possibly a small number would say before they get out of bed, but few would say “always, unceasingly, at all times!” (Ephesians 6:18) Prayer has been so misconstrued and misunderstood that is a wonder any prayers get answered. (Thank God He’s a God of Grace and Mercy) We tend to view God as a “Prayer ATM Machine.” We only go to Him when we need something or when it’s that “time to pray,” out of religious habit.
The true purpose of prayer is to build our relationship with Him. His “Service Agreement” as a “Provider” is simple, He wants to love us and receive love in return. Our Prayer time brings us into a better knowledge of Him. He already knows your needs (Matthew 6:32, Isaiah 65:24), He simply longs for you to know Him better. In getting to know Him better, you will find that when your prayer requests aren’t answered how you wanted, or when you wanted, it is through your trust and faith in Him that you will find peace, comfort, and strength, in the most desperate of situations.
Sometimes God may even seem silent, but as we’ve learned in the “Death of Lazarus,” (John 11) God has bigger revelations in mind. Instead of rushing right away to again heal a sick man, He waited, and purposefully did not show up, so that He could raise Lazarus from the dead! Sometimes God knows we are capable of bigger revelations than we ourselves can comprehend. Know that in the silence, God is increasing your faith in Him.
Prayer is intended to be every breath we take. It should be as if we are constantly communicating with a dear friend. God desires to be our “everything”. Not just our “sometimes,” when it’s convenient. Start your day by calling out to God before you get out of bed. Ask Him to be with you each step of the way and tell Him you need Him in every facet of your life. And most importantly, just tell Him you love Him. There is no better way to begin each day. Opening the line of communication before you start your day will bring you peace in knowing the presence of God is with you.
So the next time you hear a phone ring, or a pager alarm, or get an email alert, I hope you’ll stop and wonder if it could be God calling. If you find that’s not, let it be a reminder that you need to call Him!!
God’s Prayer “network” doesn’t come with any sales gimmicks or competitive calling plans, although He does offer “unlimited calls” and “24 hour customer service.” He simply offers the most reliable communication with Him, at all times. (No dropped calls on account of His service.)
If I asked you, “When do you pray?” some might say, before meals, before bed, at church, possibly a small number would say before they get out of bed, but few would say “always, unceasingly, at all times!” (Ephesians 6:18) Prayer has been so misconstrued and misunderstood that is a wonder any prayers get answered. (Thank God He’s a God of Grace and Mercy) We tend to view God as a “Prayer ATM Machine.” We only go to Him when we need something or when it’s that “time to pray,” out of religious habit.
The true purpose of prayer is to build our relationship with Him. His “Service Agreement” as a “Provider” is simple, He wants to love us and receive love in return. Our Prayer time brings us into a better knowledge of Him. He already knows your needs (Matthew 6:32, Isaiah 65:24), He simply longs for you to know Him better. In getting to know Him better, you will find that when your prayer requests aren’t answered how you wanted, or when you wanted, it is through your trust and faith in Him that you will find peace, comfort, and strength, in the most desperate of situations.
Sometimes God may even seem silent, but as we’ve learned in the “Death of Lazarus,” (John 11) God has bigger revelations in mind. Instead of rushing right away to again heal a sick man, He waited, and purposefully did not show up, so that He could raise Lazarus from the dead! Sometimes God knows we are capable of bigger revelations than we ourselves can comprehend. Know that in the silence, God is increasing your faith in Him.
Prayer is intended to be every breath we take. It should be as if we are constantly communicating with a dear friend. God desires to be our “everything”. Not just our “sometimes,” when it’s convenient. Start your day by calling out to God before you get out of bed. Ask Him to be with you each step of the way and tell Him you need Him in every facet of your life. And most importantly, just tell Him you love Him. There is no better way to begin each day. Opening the line of communication before you start your day will bring you peace in knowing the presence of God is with you.
So the next time you hear a phone ring, or a pager alarm, or get an email alert, I hope you’ll stop and wonder if it could be God calling. If you find that’s not, let it be a reminder that you need to call Him!!