How many times have you gone to do something, only to be distracted by something else? Whether it is something as simple as the phone ringing and going to answer it, while you were getting ready to do the dishes or take out the trash?
Life happens so quickly, that we forget to take care of things. We often forget to pray. After all, praying takes so much time from our busy lives and those few minutes we can be doing so much more. No matter what the situation is in our lives though, we may forget to talk to the Lord, but God never forgets us.
When I first became a Christian, I remember hearing about how great God’s love for us is. The when we confess our sins, that He is faithful and just to forgive our sins. (1 John 1:9). I imagine Him tossing them into the ocean and them falling so far down that they are gone. As far as the east is from the west (Ps 103:12) – that is how much He cares for us! And if He cares that much, how can He possibly forget us?
Sure with our minds, that are limited by what we know we can see and do physically, we also want to limit God. If we can’t do it, then how can He? If we can’t do it, why should He? Its simple, because he loves us. He loves us so deeply, that even when we turn our backs on Him (and we do) he waits patiently for us to remember Him. He waits for us to call on Him. He waits for us to seek Him. And when we do (this is the really exciting part) HE IS THERE! Waiting with open arms!
I realize that this line of thinking can open up the questions that people love to ask; If God cares, then why is there disease? Why is their sickness? Why? Why? Why?
If God loves me and never forgets me, why doesn’t He answer my prayers? I firmly believe that God ALWAYS answers my prayers. Sometimes the answer is “yes”. Sometimes the answer is “no”. And sometimes the answer is “wait”. The only answer we WANT to hear or are willing to hear is yes. Anything else, we don’t want to hear. Since we are unwilling to hear anything but yes, then it must be that God doesn’t hear us.
Lord,
Open our hearts and minds to your will. Help us to hear you, even when you tell us something we don’t want to hear. Help us to understand your ways. Your word says that if we seek understanding, you will give it to us. Help us to not only be willing to seek understand, but to accept the questions and answer that come with understanding.
Help us to know our limitations, our frailties, so that in our weakness you can make us strong. Help us to remember that you never forget us, even we we have turned away and forgotten you. Let us be a light set to shine upon a hill for others to know and love you.
We thank you for your grace and mercy in all things,
In Jesus Name we pray.
Amen.