Is God Online?
How many of us spend our days filling cyberspace with work e-mails, quick e-cards to friends, prayer requests, and other such electronic messages? The Internet is a convenient way to stay in touch with friends, shop, catch up on the latest news and find instant answers to our questions.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have that instant contact with the Lord and Savior of our lives? We could e-mail our prayers to Him and receive an instant response! I wonder what His e-mail address would be? Maybe something like kingofkings@onlyonelord.com or Savior@yourheart.net.
There have been many times I would have liked to have sent my heartfelt message to Him via cyberspace in order to get a clear, concise response. This way, I would know He heard my plea and I would know, without a doubt, what steps He might like me to take to solve the problem. There would be no reading between the lines or looking for a sign; God would be able to spell out, in no uncertain terms, His plan for my life.
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He is closer than an e-mail
Only recently have I come to understand that God is even closer to us than a quick e-mail and He is always “online.” Our fingers can never whip out a message as quickly as the voice of our hearts can reach God’s ear. In order for Him to hear us, we only need to come to His throne with a pure heart and a request.
- Send Him an instant message today
Prayer requires no drafting or editing. There are no electronic forms to submit. All you need do is send your thoughts, concerns and praises to the One who loves you.
- Find a private chat room – Matthew 6:6 gives instruction to find a private place to converse with our Savior. Like a firewall that keeps others from reading your private conversations, a solitary space helps us focus on our exchange with God. It will also bar any undesired distractions (such as an incoming e-mail!) God will see your pursuit of His will and will be pleased with your desire to seek Him privately.
- Confess to the Moderator – Approach God’s throne with a pure heart, seeking forgiveness for attitudes and actions you know are displeasing to Him. If you have un-forgiveness in your heart, confess that as well. He is the Moderator of our hearts and knows our deepest secrets. Confessing your sins and un-forgiveness of others allows Him to work His miracles!
- Celebrate your “instant winnings!” – Though we are bombarded with pop-up ads claiming instant winnings, only One has truly bestowed us with an instant “prize” – assurance of eternal life from the moment we trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord. Though salvation is instant, growing in our relationship with God is a process. When we talk to Him about our life, we can be sure that He knows what is best for us. We are instructed in Mark 11:24 to “believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you” (New Century Version). Claim the blessings you know you will receive from Him as His child. They are better than any instant winnings any man can provide. And be sure to thank and praise Him often for the Precious Prize.
- Be patient with “the Server” – Though it may seem as though the Server is down and your prayers are not heard, keep sending your message. Romans 12:12 tells us to “be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times” (New Century Version, emphasis mine). God knows the plans He has for you and though you may not see the results now, He is working on them at this very moment. Just keep your chat applet running! (See also Ephesians 6:18.)
- Consult the Manual – God has sent us a user’s manual for our lives in the inspired Holy Bible. There is a treasure trove of information in there to help us maintain an ongoing, strong relationship with Him. Pray for guidance to receive a message is to you as you read His Word. Without fail, you will find a message meant specifically for you.
God’s response time to our prayers may or may not be immediate like an e-mail, as He does things on His own timetable. Sometimes He directs us to find the answers in His Word to us, the Bible. And sometimes He says no, for our own good. Other times, He simply asks us to wait. In this day and age of immediate access, waiting is no small feat! But we can be sure that God does give us answers to our prayers in one form or another. We just have to be open to His response. Are you ”online” with Him today?
Just 2 weeks ago I remarked to my wife: “Do we need to go through some sort of difficulty all of our life, being repeatedly reminded that we “cannot go it alone”, but need to learn more Spiritual lessons?” Yes, in God’s love, He prunes us so we will bear more and bigger fruit. We read in John 15:2 “….while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” NIV. You speak wisely, Scott, is saying that “I will continue to look into my life in hopes to identify my unfavorable actions and repent seeking forgiveness”. Such an experience is very humbling, to say the least. My heart goes out to you! Also, the world is watching to see how God’s children will handle difficulty. We sometimes do not know what the many benefits will eventually come as a result of a tough situation. I have at times been in a position where God said that I could not grow Spiritually till a certain private matter be cleared up. That may be very difficult! Yet it was the only way to step up Spiritually to the next level of commitment and blessing. The way to a higher pasture is often through a valley; —-yet it is in that valley where the fresh water flows. May you drink deeply from the Living Water, be refreshed, encouraged and strengthened, to proceed up the next slope to the higher level! God loves you, Scott, and He’s not done with you yet.
Let’s pray “Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for helping Scott to draw close to You for comfort, patience and wisdom. My he also find peace and joy. YOU know exactly what he is to do. Thank You for supplying all his needs. Thank You for a supportive family and for friends that are standing by him. Yet, most of all thank YOU for standing by him through all this! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Walking beside you, Alfred.
God is good and yes, I’m very thankful to have come to be one of his children, enjoying the many benefits, ,, peace of mind knowing that he has a plan for me greater than I could conjure up for myself. However once again I find myself in a bind that doesn’t seem to want to be overcome without testing me in many ways. A relatively minor lawsuit against me has had my contractors license revoked and threatens to take away my ability to earn the modest income me and my family have relied on for so long. God helps me to provide but now I’m caught up in discovery mode… what have I done this time to have lost his support and/ or trust? A measly $3500 is really going to cause this much discomfort? I can’t even practice in my trade legally … stuck between a rock and a hard spot. Anyone that knows me knows I can humbly and greatfully work the hardest of projects if thats what I’m faced with. It just seems so odd to me that at this stage of my career I’d be in this bind. I will continue to look in to my life in hopes to identify my unfavorable actions and repent seeking forgiveness. THANK YOU LORD FOR BEING AVAILABLE TO ME ONLINE AS WELL… I’VE ALWAYS VIEWED YOU AS A PROGRESSIVE GOD ALWAYS ON THE LEADING EDGE… LOL and to think Gore was trying to take the credit for inventting the internet. All readers prayers are welcomed. Bless you all.