Wednesday, July 17, 2013

God's Phone Number


A Preacher’s Prayer: “Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff, and nudge me when I’ve said enough.”

A little girl’s Prayer: The little girl was being punished by making her eat by herself in the corner of the room, the family paid no attention to her until they heard her pray: “I thank Thee, Lord, for preparing a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.”

A little boy’s Prayer: On a hot summer day they had guest for dinner, the mother asked her four year old son to say the prayer. “But, mom, I don’t know what to say,” he said. Just say to the Lord what you’ve heard me say,” she told him. The little boy bowed his little head and said, “oh, Lord, why did I invite those people here on a hot day like this?”

God is always aware of us. Scripture says that God will never leave us. One day, as I was reading in the book of Jeremiah, I discovered that God has a direct line for everyone who wants to talk to him. I call it God’s phone number. It is JER-333 – Jeremiah 33:3, which says, “Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.”(The Message)

Prayer has always been a big resource in my life. However, there are times that for some reason or another, my prayer life would take a hit and I would be self-absorbed and not talk to God as much. Maybe you have heard the phrase: “Seven Prayerless Days Makes One Weak.” It is true! We are the weak and vulnerable when we are not calling God. Someone said, “He who is a stranger to prayer is a stranger to power!”

A Sunday school teacher asked her students, what is prayer? One student replied, “That is a message sent to God at night and on Sundays when the rates are lower.” As funny as this sounds, it is simply not true. God is always available. 24/7. Toll Free. No drop lines. No dead zones. No call waiting. No pressing 1, 2, or 3 to get God…He is always the one to answer. Proverbs 15:29, “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.”

One teenager’s view of prayer: “God answers prayer four ways: yes, no, wait awhile, or, you’ve got to be kidding!” I laugh at this, but in every situation, God answers no matter the request. We may not like how He does it, when He does it, or what He decides to do, but He will answer you. God is in the knowing us business and will do what is BEST for us. Trust Him. Talk to Him. Be Faithful to Him. Pray often and then pray some more.

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian