Lord, I hope you don’t mind that I dialed up the emergency number without having an actual emergency. I just wanted to say hello and to thank you for all that you have done for me. I have a ton of requests for you, but today I think I will just be thankful for all of the countless blessings that I have because of you!
I really do not intend any sarcasm here. I sincerely believe that God wants to hear from us at all times. He does not want to just hear from us when we are having an emergency or only when we need something from him. He wants to talk to us when things are going great and when things are falling apart around us. Prayer is not intended as a 9-1-1 call to God. It is, in its simplest form, communication with God.
Prayer is also two-way communication. I prefer to spend more time listening to God than I do speaking to him, but sometimes I do way too much talking and spewing off all of my problems and wishes. But he assures me that he can handle that just fine. I usually find the answers I’m seeking if I get still and take the time to be quiet and listen.
I also find that prayer is more effective for me if I seek out a quiet place where I can be alone with God and vocalize my prayers. Praying out loud to God as if I were talking directly to a friend makes it all the more real for me… and a little funny or embarrassing if someone happens to discover me in my quiet place!
Talk to God and make your prayer life a priority so that when the emergencies do come you will already have effective communication skills with God. He will already know your need before you even ask!
Colossians 4:2 (NLT) - “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”