It’s the single, most-used prayer that arguably everyone asks at one point in time, usually in distress, “Are you there, God? It’s me.”
For those who pray often and those who do not, we all wonder if God is really listening. After all, He has the universe to run, right? Why take time to answer our call?
Let me assure you that, speaking from personal experience and what the Bible teaches me, God is always listening. In fact, He’s eager to hear from you, and even has you on speed dial.
This common prayer is the key to unlocking a priceless and powerful connection to God, regardless of whether you have decided to believe — and follow — Jesus the Christ. God is always listening and yearns to hear from His children, just like any Father would, I imagine.
For those who follow Jesus, prayer offers a priceless privilege in every believer’s “benefit’s package.” The humblest prayer connects heaven to earth, unleashing untold spiritual power to any seemingly “ordinary” life circumstance.
Prayer is simply a conversation with God. To picture how prayer works, imagine the military’s laser-guided smart bomb, a formidable weapon that can “surgically” destroy an enemy target while minimizing collateral damage. The “bomb” is the power of God.
Now view yourself as the president with his finger on the button. When he gets the call, he decides if and when to push the button.
When a Christian prays, God decides if and when to unleash His power at the target. Does God answer every prayer? Yes, but it may not always be the answer we want. You see, God IS running the universe and knows exactly what we need and when we need it. He has vision beyond our immediate wishes.
Sometimes, in the absence of a direct answer, our faith in God can seem to waiver. Even the great 12 original disciples questioned their faith in Jesus and asked how to pray.
The Gospel of Mark records a funny story about this same dilemma we all face. In my own words, Jesus had just finished feeding 5,000 with only a few loaves and fish. Then another time, he fed 4,000 with a few loaves of bread and a few fish. Each time, the disciples gathered leftovers!
Later, the disciples were still in a quandary about what to believe about Jesus. So, he asked them, “Do you remember the time I fed the 5,000? How many baskets left over did you gather?”
I can imagine they answered sheepishly, “Twelve.”
Then, Jesus asks, “How about the 4,000, how many extra baskets did you gather?”
Again, sheepishly, they reply, “Seven.”
It’s as if the disciples forgot what they witnessed firsthand! Jesus was reminding them that He has power available. He’s the one who walked on the water. He’s the one who healed the leper. He’s the one who taught with authority, and yet was only 33 years old.
And it is Jesus who says in John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Our job is to pick up the phone, call and fire away.
Are you trying to live your life on your own natural power, and getting discouraged with the mediocre result? Maybe we need to be reminded like the disciples, and never doubt God has the answers we need, time to listen to our call, and the desire — and power — to carry out our wishes.
— D.C. Collier is a Bible teacher, discipleship mentor and writer focused on Christian apologetics. A mechanical engineer and internet entrepreneur, he is the author of My Origin, My Destiny, a book focused on Christianity’s basic “value proposition.” Click here for more information, or contact him at don@peervalue.com. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.