Automatic But Not Automated by Delores Sanan
I recall a time when telemarketing calls were actually made by people. You’d get a call and a real person would be on the line. With the latest and greatest technology, there is very little human interaction in telemarketing. I thought it had reached new heights when I received a system generated call, instructing me to, “please hold the line, we have an important call for you.” But then I started receiving calls from another source. I’d answer the phone and then hear the blasting horn of a steam ship. Initially, I thought it was a prank call so I just hung up the phone. But the next day around the same time, I received the same call. Although someone showed me how to block the call, that system still dials my phone at the same time every day. Oddly enough, I found myself asking the question, do we sometimes pray automated prayers? Do we approach God’s throne of grace with the same prayer, same time each day, never allowing enough time for personal interaction with our heavenly Father.
Matthew 6:7,8 read, “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Then, Ecclesiastes 5: 1, 2 reads, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth; do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”
Praying should be automatic. It is a very vital part of our relationship with the Lord. Throughout the word, we are instructed to pray- to pray without ceasing, to pray believing in the promise of His word that whatsoever we ask, we can have if we believe. But never should we offer up to God empty, insincere prayers. I will be the first to confess, I do not want my prayers blocked. Like David, I want my prayers to be straight from the heart. That the Lord will allow my prayers to come before him and he will hear my every cry.
To contact Delores, please visit www.motivatingspirit.com or send an email to delores@motivatingspirit.com