Pick up the phone

Sometimes it can be hard to pick up the phone and call someone. You had a fight, or you’re worried they are too busy for you, or you just can’t find the right words to say.

It’s been said (or rather, sung) that “prayer is like a telephone”, and although this offers us privileged anytime access to our heavenly father, we often find that, as with our physical telephone, we are often hesitant to pick it up and dial. (Forgive me if today’s metaphor seems a bit over-simplified – I found this helpful.)

Here are some of the excuses we frequently use, with obvious reminders of why they are absurd:

1. We had a fight (aka, I’m too sinful).
You are a sinner. God is holy. This much has always been true. But Jesus died to cover you with his perfect righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). No fight is too big for God to forgive.

2. He’s probably busy.
Don’t get me wrong, God is busy, in the sense that he does a great deal. But, in ways that I will never quite grasp this side of eternity, he’s the best multi-tasker ever. He is never too busy to listen to his children.

3. He won’t want to listen to me.
God loves us as much as he loves Jesus (John 17:23). We are his dear children, and he is never too tired/busy/stressed/exasperated to listen to us. When we humbly approach him, he always hears what we have to say.

4. I doubt he’ll help me with this.
One of my favourite God-as-Father images in the Bible is this one from Matthew 7: “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” The Bible doesn’t say God will always give us whatever we want – for starters, we’re always wanting the wrong things – but he delights to give us good gifts, and he’s working for your good.

5. I can’t find the right words.
God made you, and he knows everything about you. He already knows what you’re going to say to him, and he loves to hear you say it. But don’t panic if words fail: Paul says the Spirit of God intercedes for us when we can’t find the words (Romans 8:26), which is pretty amazing in itself.

We really have a wonderful gift in prayer – what are we waiting for?