2010-01-14 - God on Speed Dial

Like 12:6-8 "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷ "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. ⁸ "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; (NASB)

I have to thank a friend of mine for sharing this phrase with me. I love it. Speed dial: those numbers you use a lot or are needed in emergencies. How utterly appropriate to place in our minds the concept of immediate access to God. Picture Esther entering the throne room and kneeling and bowing before her husband the King. She had entered uninvited and according to Persian law she could have been executed. But hear this: the Kings heart was filled with compassion as he raised the scepter to indicate that her she could approach and address the King. We need not fear execution as we enter God's throne room, but the picture is otherwise so similar as we bring our requests before the Lord.

We had about 11 days straight at work trying to chase down a problem that kept causing one of the more critical systems in our network to fail seemingly at random. We would adjust something and it would work for a while. Then at two or three in the morning my pager would go off again. At one point I was so painfully physically drained I told them to let the system run as best it could. I had to have a few hours of sleep. I was literally shaking holding the phone.

On the tenth day Jan sent mail to the CF staff asking for prayer for me. She had not heard from me for several days and she knew I was having a serious problem at work. On the tenth day we found the problem in a place where none of us had suspected. When we saw the problem it was plainly obvious what was wrong. Even more ironic, the problem was corrected in less than 30 seconds with a single command. The system ran flawlessly overnight between the tenth and 11th days. On the 11th evening I got to my CF mail for the first time in a few days and I found Jan's email.

I thanked God on the spot for my friends who had the wisdom to go to prayer where I had not. I find no coincidence in the fact that God's help had been requested on my behalf and the problem had been so impossible to locate was found and so easily and completely corrected. I had failed to do what, as a believer of 33 years, I should have done first.

This was a life lesson. God has given me a sharp mind and tenacious nature to solve problems. But these gifts should are not infallible. I have access the throne room of Heaven and can request the limitless power of the Creator of the Universe to assist me. He knows the number of the hairs on our head (Luke 12:7). He knows when a sparrow falls to the ground (Matt 10:28-30). How much more does He care for our concerns no matter how small or "unspiritial" they may seem.

Phil 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NASB)

There are some concerns that are beyond fixing the way we would ask in our human thinking. I have a friend who's mother is in the late stages of cancer. She is going home and nothing but a miracle will change that. We have asked that she be healed. God's divine will and purpose may be that she has run her race and it is time for her to come home. There is comfort in knowing we will be together again someday if we know Christ as our Savior. Sometimes the answer to our prayers is yes, other times it is wait, and other times still it is, "I have a better idea." God is still on speed dial for our deep sorrows when comfort is very hard to find.

The fact remains that we have an open door to ask whatever is on our hearts in prayer for our joys, concerns and sadness along with thanks for the many amazing things He provides for us that we often take for granted.

Pray first. Pray often. Pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17).

Selah.

Grace and Peace,
Mike

jmhoskins@gmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org