Thoughts for Life: #7 Texting God

- David Mccasland- An article in the Washington Post told about a 15-year-old girl who sent and received 6,473 cell phone text messages in a single month. She says about her constant communication with friends, "I would die without it." And she is not alone.

Researchers say that 90 percent of people worldwide text at least once per day, and more that 350 billion text messages are sent each month.

To me, this ongoing digital conversation offers a remarkable illustration of what prayer could and should be like for every follower of Christ. Paul seemed to be constantly in an attitude of prayer for others. (Google image, Teenager texting)

"We have not stopped praying for you" (Col. 1:9). "Persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere" (Ephesians 6:18). "Never stop praying" ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17). But how can we possibly do that?

Frank Laubach a missionary in the Philippines, described his habit of "shooting" prayers at people as he encountered them during the course of each day. In a sense, he was "texting" God on their behalf, staying in constant communication with the Father.

Laubach believed that prayer is the mightiest force in the world, and said: "My part is to live in this hour in continuous inner conversation with God and in perfect responsiveness to His will."

Never stop praying. Perhaps what Paul urged us to do can be done. [David Mccasland]

Let's pray-

Father, we do see the affects of text messaging on our teenagers with concern. But, let's be open to learn how these on-going digital conversations offer a remarkable illustration of what prayer could and should be like for the followers of Christ.

Paul seemed to be in a constant attitude of prayer for others. He said that he hadn't stopped praying for the believers everywhere. Frank Laubach, missionary to the Philippines, tells us of the habit he has of "shooting" prayers at people as he encounters them during the course of each day.

In a sense, what he's doing is to text You for the needs of others as he sees them. This keeps him in constant communication with You. He believed that prayer is the mightiest force in the world, and that our constantly being in touch with You is our perfect responsiveness to Your will.

Perhaps what Paul said would be more true, if we'd adopt this habit!

Today's Bible verses-

Psalm 94:18-19, AMPC Thank you, Heavenly Father. “When I said, my foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up. In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!”

Psalms 31:19 “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.”

Quotes for today-

~ Jill Savage-

"Sometimes, honestly, a season of waiting can also be about what God wants to do inside of us. He's using the wait to extend to us an invitation to grow and deepen our surrender and our faith.

So, how long do you wait for God to answer your prayers?

My experience is that you keep praying until the breakthrough comes or the answer becomes clear because God gives you a peace about it."`

~ Sharon Jaynes- "For the Christian, there is the future hope of eternity with God. But there is also hope for the here and now. We have the assurance, the evidence of things not seen, that no matter what happens, God is still on his throne."

Words of wisdom-

~ When we're in a strange-to-us place, we have the assurance that God is with us. Whatever our challenge may be, we can know that the Lord will help us manage them. Today, let's look to Him for the answers, protection and guidance for the best way to react in every situation.

Today's question-

Why should we embrace faith in hard times?

When oppression comes to us, will we look at the problem, or the One who knows how to deal with it to bring victory and rejoicing? When our joy is stolen, we tend to look at the situation instead of leaning into the Lord for guidance and help.

Despair happens when we concentrate on our bitterness and selfishness. As battles are won through community efforts, let's confide with some wise friends. When we get their advice to consider, we'll examine our own outlook on the situation, and may very well see that we are narrowminded, one-sided and fearful.

When we put our hopes and dreams in the world's finances, letting our love be centered on what all we have and think we need, we lose our real reason for living. Our laboring in what the Lord has provided for us is discovered through our running into Him for help. He's the One to fear, as He knows it all, and has Perfect understanding concerning our every need.

Ecc. 5:19 (CSB) "Furthermore, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, he has also allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God."