God is Listening to Us! - August 23, 2011

Good Tuesday morning! Aaiigh! A predicted high of 103º today! Did someone forget to tell the weather folks that this is the end of August? I guess they would be like the umpires: we call 'em like we see 'em. We are having a heat wave to start the school year it seems. I'm hoping it's a mini heat wave. Time for fall to start I say! Of course, the weather has not shown a history of listening to me. Isn't it nice when some big organization or someone in power listens to what you ask? Yet in this world that is seldom the case. But... we are not in this world.

I do not know why we have gained the ear of God, the Creator and Almighty One. With our past behavior and our birth into a rebellious state, we should have no right to have our words heard by God the Father. Yet, the Bible says that our Lord listens to our every thought. Of course that might make one take a gulp or two. Our every thought? Uh, oh....

Yes, we also have the right to petition God and the Bible even tells us how to do it. Jesus gave us a model for our prayers; Paul said "...in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Moses was given the Law and set up a system of bringing offerings to God, but often God spoke to Moses about hearing the grumbling from the Israelites. Even when addressing their complaints to Moses, God heard all the people said. We are also reminded that we will answer for every idle word we speak. I can only ask: what makes you and me so important that God would even listen to us?

The answer must be something to do with the fact that He is God. His great love sent His Son to the Cross. God's love may be a quality of His that allows our Lord to listen to a bunch of sinners with selfish motives. God's love may even reach out in the Spirit to change us. A change in heart would make me a lot easier to listen to I figure.

The good news is that we don't have to complain to God. We are not required to curse or condemn anyone. No one has to spread idle rumor or gossip. Through the love of Christ we can come to God and speak requests, words of love, songs of praise, and just talk to our Father in Heaven. That is just plain amazing! What a privilege to be able to pray to God.

Take some time to have a chat with your Creator today. Listen too! He may have something to say.

Bucky