Messaging God
Since I get up so very early each morning to post my blog, I will often get a little dozy when I’m about to start my devotions. To be fully alert for my conversations with God, I’ll sometimes ease my recliner back and shut my eyes for a few minutes – which often includes a little nap.
But this day I had a new experience. I woke up from my nap about ten minutes later and found myself praying. My words went like this: “Dear Lord, comma, thank you for this day, period.” Yes, I said the words “comma” and “period” as though I was dictating a text message into my phone. Goodness! I’m thankful God hears me without Him needing a cell phone or other electronics to get my message through!
Like me, most people send and receive text messages multiple times daily. They may be long or short, important or trivial. I start my day with texting my children and grandchildren, expressing my love for them and/or encouraging them. It’s better than calling them because I know they have busy schedules, and a phone call may interrupt what they’re doing at the time.
As wacky as it may sound, I decided to add “God” to my contact list with my telephone number as His phone number. Since my routine daily is to text messages to those I love, not only can I speak out to God any time I want to throughout my day, I can also text Him a little message like I do for those who I love and care about.
And my text messages to Him might just be a good way to catalog my prayer requests and answers to those prayers. I can scroll back to see what I have prayed. And while I don’t expect God to text me back, I’m sure I’m going to hear back from Him.
I think God is messaging us all the time without words or a cell phone, like when we sense His overwhelming presence and love for us. And, could these be “messages” from God? We feel the urge to reach out to someone in need. We’re cooking supper and are suddenly filled with gratitude. We marvel at a lovely sunset. We’re inspired by a scripture we read. A stranger smiles at us. A friend calls just when we need it.
In scripture, I think we can find some great text messages that God gave us from His Word…..like these:
“Do 2 others as U would have them do 2 U.”
“Love 1 another.”
“IM w/ U always.”
“Do not let ur hearts B troubled.”
“Love ur enemies.”
“Peace B w/ U.”
“Come 2 Me”
Do we send “messages” to God throughout our day? I’m thankful He is on the “main line” all the time. That means I can tell Him what I want and need 24/7. However I communicate with Him, He hears me, knows me by name (without needing an identifier on His phone). And, He is always there for you, too! Go ahead! Call, text, sing, or shout – He hears us when we communicate with Him — any time and any where!
BTW — for a quick message from God any time, we simply open up His Word and we’ll hear His voice loud and clear. For example: Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”