We have learned to live with answering machines as a necessary part of modernization. But what if God decided to install an automated answering machine ?

Imagine praying and hearing this: "Thank you for calling My Father's House. Please select one of the following four options: Press 1 for requests. Press 2 for a thanksgiving. Press 3 for complaints. For all other inquiries, press 4."

What if God used the familiar excuse: "All the angels are helping other customers right now. Please stay on the line. Your call will be answered in the order it was received."

Can you imagine getting these kinds of responses as you call on God in prayer?

"If you would like to speak with Gabriel, press 1. For Michael, press 2. For any other angel, press 3." "If you would like King David to sing a psalm for you, press 6." "To find out if your relative is here, enter his/her date of death and listen for the list that follows." "For reservations at My Father's House, simply press the letter J-O-H-N, followed by the numbers 3-1-6." "For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, the age of the earth, and where Noah's ark is, wait until you get here." "Our computers show that you have called once today already. Please hang up immediately."

"This office is closed for the weekend. Please call again on Monday."

THANK GOD YOU CAN'T CALL HIM TOO OFTEN! You only need to ring once, and God hears you. Because of Jesus, you never get a busy signal. God takes each call and knows each caller personally.

Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help and He will say: Here I am. (Isaiah 58:9 NIV)

Contributed by: Barbara P. Darnall