I found the following quote in a book called "A Young Woman's Guide to Making the Right Choices" by Elizabeth George. So far, it's a great book!
God is Available to You 24/7
"Is that your cell phone ringing?" We hear this every day, don't we? Everyone seems to have a cell phone and there are very few places you can't receive a signal. In many ways, prayer is like a cell phone. You can anytime you want, anywhere you want, for as long as you want. But, unlike a cell phone, prayer has no fees or roaming charges. You also never have to scroll through a directory to find God's number. And your communication with God requires no earpiece- it's hands free. Plus you have a direct line to the God of the universe 24/7- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. How's that for technology? Divine technology, that is! - Elizabeth George, A Young Woman's Guide to Making the Right Choices, page 46.
I don't know about you, but I think that's pretty amazing!
If that's the case, why don't we pray more often? I mean, there are so many promises that God gives us if we pray. (Jeremiah 33:3; Mark 11:24; James 1:5; 1 John 1:9 just to name a few!) I believe that the root of the problem is- ready for it?- ME. Yes, I am the reason I don't pray as often as I should/want to. I'm selfish. I have selfish desires, I have selfish motives and I think I'm alright on my own. After all, I'm perfect, so why do I need to pray? I don't need to change, I can handle life on my own, so why ask for help?
This pretty much sums it up: James 4:2-3 The Message
Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
Our/my mindset is a totally wrong mindset. I'm not alright on my own. I'm completely messed up and I can't seem to get that into my head. I'm totally broken and I try to fix myself. Let me tell you, a band-aid is not going to fix a wound that needs some serious stitches. We can't fix ourselves. We need a doctor to help us and it just so happens God's an M.D. and He's holding out his able hands to heal us. While earthly doctors can't guarantee good results, God promises healing.
So, since selfishness is the disease keeping us from amazing things and Christ is the cure, what do we have to do to get that cure? We have to realize that we fail on our own. We have to drop the sheet that we've so desperately been holding up to cover our lives and mistakes. We have to let Him in. So, in other words, to pray more, we need to pray more.
Does that make any sense? I hope this doesn't read like a depressed dog chasing its tail.
Let me leave you with a verse to ponder.
I originally read this verse in the NIV translation, which is the translation I use on a regular basis. Here it is:
Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.But then, since BibleGateway.com is so very handy, I decided to look it up in the Message translation, as well, and it took my breath away. Here it is:
Hebrews 4:14-16 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
He's waiting for us. Accept the help.
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