But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14
People like pastors to pray with them. At least some people do.
Maybe they think a pastor has a more direct line. We don't, but we do like to pray.
Some years ago, I was on the phone and talking with a friend. During the course of the conversation he asked me to have a prayer with him over the phone. I had just begun with, "Dear Lord," when my daughter came in.
Overhearing that "Dear Lord", she stopped in her tracks, and without any kind of smile said, "Is that God on the phone, daddy? If it is, don't let Him hang up when you're done, I've got a couple of things I need to talk to Him about, too."
Did you smile at that story? I'm glad you did. You probably smiled because you recognized that, as a little child, she believed God was really right there, and He really wanted to listen to her prayer.
Since that day, I've drawn a great deal of contentment from the knowledge that my daughter, without any kind of sophistication, had a better understanding of God than her daddy, the preacher.
She knew what I sometimes forget: God really is ready to listen. Maybe you've forgotten that, too.
Which is why, if you have felt that God is distant in your life, or if you think He has stopped paying attention to your prayers, I'd like you to think of my daughter.
Even more, because of Jesus and the reunion His life, death and resurrection have brought about, God is really there, and He is ready to listen to His children. Because of the Savior, your heavenly Father wants to know what you have to say.
The truth is: God doesn't hang up on you. If you've got something to say to Him, He's ready to listen to you.
From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for always being ready to listen to me. I am comforted and strengthened in the knowledge that You will, because of Jesus, never hang up on me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 15-16 2 Corinthians 5
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