Don't Expect Those Golf Balls to Hatch
By Eddie Smith
Most of us have resigned ourselves to the fact that voicemail is an irritating, yet necessary part of our lives. Consider what it would be like if God installed voicemail on heaven’s switchboard. Imagine praying and hearing the following:
Thank you for calling heaven.
For English press 1
For Spanish press 2
For all other languages, press 3
Please select one of the following options:
Press 1 for requests
Press 2 for thanksgiving
Press 3 for complaints
Press 4 for all others
I am sorry; all our angels are busy helping other sinners right now. However, your prayer is important to us, and we will answer it in the order it was received. Please stay on the line.
If you would like to speak to:
God, press 1
Jesus, press 2
Holy Spirit, press 3
To find a loved one who has been assigned to heaven press 5, and then enter his or her Social Security number followed by the pound sign. If you receive a negative response, please hang up and dial area code 666.
For reservations to heaven, please enter J-O-H-N followed by the numbers, 3:16.
For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs and life on other planets, please wait until you arrive in heaven.
The office is now closed for the weekend to observe a religious holiday.
If you are calling after hours and need emergency assistance, please contact your pastor.
Thank you and have a heavenly day.
(Author Unknown)
Legendary radio news commentator Paul Harvey reports a true story about a stork in Florida that mated with another stork, then built her nest near a golf course.
She faithfully sat on her nest for weeks until naturalists discovered that she was sitting on a pile of golf balls—not eggs! It’s fair to say that had she sat there for the rest of her life she’d not have produced a thing.
Some folks feel like sincerity and consistency are the keys to answered prayer. I suggest there is more to praying and being heard in heaven, than sincerity and consistency.
Can we ever forget the annoying Verizon® cell phone commercial that posed the burning question, “Can you hear me now?” However, when it comes to prayer, there isn’t a more important question for us to ask? I’m sure you’ll agree that being heard is infinitely more important than praying.
At any given moment, billions of people around the world are praying. How many do you suppose are speaking to the Living God? More important, how many of those who are, do you think, he hears? Obviously he will not answer a prayer he doesn’t hear.
In Matthew 6:7 Jesus said of the heathen who babble repetitious prayers, “They think they shall be heard for their much speaking.” We're told that God won't hear those who "regard iniquity" or as the Message Bible says, "Are cozy with evil." And James tells us that a double-minded person should not think that he or she will receive anything from the Lord. (See James 1:5-8.)
To spend one’s entire life praying prayers that aren’t heard in heaven is as fruitless as a stork trying to hatch a nest full of golf balls!
Certainly, what we say in prayer is important, but we shouldn’t forget that it’s the person, not the prayer that God hears. He doesn’t answer prayer. God answers praying people. So, in your quest to be heard in heaven, become a person God listens to.
One of my life goals is to be a person God hears. As my wife Alice points out in her best-selling book Beyond the Veil, God doesn’t have favorites, but he does have intimates.
Crowds followed Jesus. The twelve were his disciples who walked with him daily. However, Peter, James, and John were intimates of Jesus. And John is described as “the disciple Jesus loved.” Or at least, that’s how John saw it. (See John 13:23.)
That’s my life goal. Why not make it yours goal too!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From Eddie Smith's soon-to-be-released book, How To Be Heard in Heaven
Preorder yours today at: www.prayerbookstore.com
Enroll in his free 52-week school of prayer at: www.TeachMeToPray.com
Donate securely online:www.usprayercenter.org
Resources:
www.prayerbookstore.com
www.windsoffire.com
Donate securely online
www.usprayercenter.org
Thank you. Your income-tax deductible gifts help us evangelism and equip the nations.
Most of us have resigned ourselves to the fact that voicemail is an irritating, yet necessary part of our lives. Consider what it would be like if God installed voicemail on heaven’s switchboard. Imagine praying and hearing the following:
Thank you for calling heaven.
For English press 1
For Spanish press 2
For all other languages, press 3
Please select one of the following options:
Press 1 for requests
Press 2 for thanksgiving
Press 3 for complaints
Press 4 for all others
I am sorry; all our angels are busy helping other sinners right now. However, your prayer is important to us, and we will answer it in the order it was received. Please stay on the line.
If you would like to speak to:
God, press 1
Jesus, press 2
Holy Spirit, press 3
To find a loved one who has been assigned to heaven press 5, and then enter his or her Social Security number followed by the pound sign. If you receive a negative response, please hang up and dial area code 666.
For reservations to heaven, please enter J-O-H-N followed by the numbers, 3:16.
For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs and life on other planets, please wait until you arrive in heaven.
The office is now closed for the weekend to observe a religious holiday.
If you are calling after hours and need emergency assistance, please contact your pastor.
Thank you and have a heavenly day.
(Author Unknown)
Legendary radio news commentator Paul Harvey reports a true story about a stork in Florida that mated with another stork, then built her nest near a golf course.
She faithfully sat on her nest for weeks until naturalists discovered that she was sitting on a pile of golf balls—not eggs! It’s fair to say that had she sat there for the rest of her life she’d not have produced a thing.
Some folks feel like sincerity and consistency are the keys to answered prayer. I suggest there is more to praying and being heard in heaven, than sincerity and consistency.
Can we ever forget the annoying Verizon® cell phone commercial that posed the burning question, “Can you hear me now?” However, when it comes to prayer, there isn’t a more important question for us to ask? I’m sure you’ll agree that being heard is infinitely more important than praying.
At any given moment, billions of people around the world are praying. How many do you suppose are speaking to the Living God? More important, how many of those who are, do you think, he hears? Obviously he will not answer a prayer he doesn’t hear.
In Matthew 6:7 Jesus said of the heathen who babble repetitious prayers, “They think they shall be heard for their much speaking.” We're told that God won't hear those who "regard iniquity" or as the Message Bible says, "Are cozy with evil." And James tells us that a double-minded person should not think that he or she will receive anything from the Lord. (See James 1:5-8.)
To spend one’s entire life praying prayers that aren’t heard in heaven is as fruitless as a stork trying to hatch a nest full of golf balls!
Certainly, what we say in prayer is important, but we shouldn’t forget that it’s the person, not the prayer that God hears. He doesn’t answer prayer. God answers praying people. So, in your quest to be heard in heaven, become a person God listens to.
One of my life goals is to be a person God hears. As my wife Alice points out in her best-selling book Beyond the Veil, God doesn’t have favorites, but he does have intimates.
Crowds followed Jesus. The twelve were his disciples who walked with him daily. However, Peter, James, and John were intimates of Jesus. And John is described as “the disciple Jesus loved.” Or at least, that’s how John saw it.
That’s my life goal. Why not make it yours goal too!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From Eddie Smith's soon-to-be-released book, How To Be Heard in Heaven
Preorder yours today at: www.prayerbookstore.com
Enroll in his free 52-week school of prayer at: www.TeachMeToPray.com
Donate securely online:www.usprayercenter.org
Resources:
www.prayerbookstore.com
www.windsoffire.com
Donate securely online
www.usprayercenter.org
Thank you. Your income-tax deductible gifts help us evangelism and equip the nations.
posted by Eddie Smith | 8:59 PM
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