God at a Distance - Martin Wiles

But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8 NLT

Sitting silently, it waited to be picked up to talk to people who were far away.

Telephones have changed drastically during my lifetime. The first phone I remember was solid black with only a receiver and perched on my grandmother’s buffet in her dining room. To make a call, I picked up the receiver and, if no one was talking, waited for the operator’s assistance. This was called a party line. 

The next phone looked similar but had a dial so I could place my call without the operator’s help. Then the push button phone arrived. The cordless phone followed. Now I wasn’t bound by a cord and could move about while talking. 

Finally, cellular phones revolutionized communication. I could talk while traveling. Presently, I can carry my phone (computer) with me anywhere I go. Distance is no longer an issue.

While distance was once a problem when placing calls, it never has been for God. This Roman officer knew this long before the idea of communicating by phone ever entered an inventor’s mind. His servant was paralyzed and needed healing. He approached Jesus who offered to come to his house and heal the servant. The officer suggested Jesus do it long distance. Jesus was amazed at his faith. 

Sometimes I forget distance isn’t a problem for God. I imagine when praying that my prayers drift up to heaven and then vie for God’s attention—among the millions of others being offered at the exact moment. Then God has to schedule when he’ll take care of mine. And I wait.

To begin with, God is Spirit and omnipresent. He’s not bound by time and is everywhere at the same time. He can hear my prayers and millions more at the exact time and in the same moment. He isn’t confined by chronos time but operates in kairos time. 

While God can answer my prayer from a distance, from his perspective distance is never what I perceive it to be. He is as close as the breath I breathe to utter my request.

God is never too busy or far away to answer your prayers and supplications. Go to him often, believing he will answer any prayer made in faith.

Prayer: Father, we thank You for being as close as the air we breathe and for Your willingness to answer our prayers.

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Martin Wiles is a minister, author, and freelance editor currently living in Greenwood, South Carolina. He and his wife Michelle are founders of Love Lines From God, a devotional ministry helping those who want to enhance their spiritual journey with Christ. His latest book, Grits & Grace & God, is available at Amazon. Or sign up for his daily email devotions by visiting his website. 

A Guilt-Free Prayer Life by Karen Wingate

   Church prayer lists...
                          Prayer chains...
                                      Missionary prayer letters... 
                                                      Email and Facebook prayer requests...

Each represents a broad spectrum of human need. Add that to what I should be praying for daily - my family, unbelieving friends, our nation and my church - and I've got a whole heap of stuff to pray for. No wonder we hear stories of the great men of faith spending hours in prayer. 

How do they do it? I don't seem to have the hours in my day to pray for all I need to lift to the Father. If I don't pray for each need, I feel guilty. 

So here is how I've learned to manage my intercessory prayer life:

Pray discriminately. Global communication has broadened our awareness of needs and problems. We hear far more about world situations and people's private lives in one day than George Washington heard in a lifetime. Determine whether the prayer need is within your sphere of influence or within your sphere of concern. If neither, pray once for the need, let it go, and don’t feel guilty.

Pray immediately. Pray when the need is expressed, then let it go, giving it up to the Lord.

Pray with the petitioner. Praying with a person sends a strong message to them, that you are serious about prayer. Recently,a church member called, expressing a prayer need for her granddaughter who was about to deliver a baby that afternoon, a baby who would likely not survive. I prayed with her on the phone. When I finished, she was in tears and so grateful. Praying with her became more powerful and effective than simply promising to pray.

Pray as things come to mind. If certain issues come to the forefront of your thinking, there is probably a good reason. The Holy Spirit may be prompting you to pray, so follow his leading (Romans 8:27).

Pray your passion. Let your prayer life reflect your spiritual gifts. Whatever God lays on your heart, pray about it. If you have the gift of mercy, you will be more drawn to pray for those with physical needs. If evangelism, unbelievers will be most on your heart. Go with what is on your heart.

Make a list. This will help structure your prayer time so you don’t forget what is important and stay focused as you pray.

Say thank you. Philippians 4:6,7 suggests that every prayer request should be blanketed in thanksgiving. When we pray with a thankful attitude, we are more assured of God’s ability to answer our prayers. Thank God for what he has already done, for the way He is working in unseen ways, for His ability to understand and intervene, and for the answer He will provide.

Don’t let the volume of prayer requests choke your prayer life. Start small and just do it. Remember, prayer is simply conversations with your Lord.

Karen Wingate has written a number of articles for national publications and has spoken for several ladies' groups and retreats on the topic of prayer. For more information, contact Karen at karenawingate@gmail.com.

And check out our latest book review: Kisses for Kate, reviewed by Erin Dorr.