Never on Hold

Psalm 6:9
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.

It is virtually impossible today to call any business, from pharmacy to credit card company to utility to tech support, and take pleasure in being greeted by a live voice. We are welcomed instead by a prerecorded message directing us as to which number to press depending upon the nature of our inquiry.

As if sitting through this series of options were not trying enough, once our choice is made, we are subjected to insipid music punctuated, perhaps, by the occasional, again prerecorded, voice assuring us that our call will be answered in the order in which it was received by an operator who, at present, is busy assisting other customers. Rarely are these experiences pleasant and, often, our wait time is so long, it would try the patience of Job.

What if we, when we prayed to God, instead of having a direct line of communication with Him, had to endure the same rigamarole businesses put us through? If we did, it might sound something like this:

"Welcome! Thank you for calling The Throne Room of God. Your call is very important to us and may be recorded for quality purposes. Please listen carefully to your list of options as our menu has changed.

If you wish to thank God for all He has done, press one.

If you have a sin you need to confess, press two.

If you are having family and/or marital problems, press three.

If you are struggling to forgive someone, press four.

If you or a loved one is in need of a special blessing, press five.

For all other requests, press zero, and an angel will be with you shortly."

Why don't we press zero and see what happens . . .

(Heavenly harp music plays in the background) "Hello! You have reached the desk of Gabriel, arch angel-in-chief. I can't come to the phone right now as I am attending to the millions of prayer requests before yours, but if you'll leave your name, your number, and a brief message, I'll be sure to pass it on to God. Thank you for calling and have a blessed day!"

If we had to put up with such inanity, would any of us still be inclined to pray? I dare say, most of us would become prayer dropouts in a twinkling. In light of that, let us be thankful today and in all our tomorrows for the direct line we have to our loving Heavenly Father who hears our cries for mercy and accepts our every prayer. He never puts us on hold!

Readings
Psalms 5, 6 or 10, 11
Jeremiah 36:27-37:2
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
Matthew 10:16-23