Jeremiah 33 ~ Pick up the Phone and Call

“This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is His name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

It usually takes a lot for me to ask for help. When small problems pop up, I just handle them. I mean why ask for someone’s help or assistance when I can more than likely just take care of it myself? But when those problems ramp up, growing ever larger, I am forced to take a deep breath and make the big ask, will you help me? And speaking of asking for help, why does it seem to go against our human grain to reach out and ask for help? Why does it seem so difficult to admit that the problem that lies before us is above our pay grade and we actually need assistance? Yet as you consider this human dilemma of asking for help, make the broader jump to the dilemma of asking for Godly help. The dilemma being just exactly when do you take your problems to Almighty God? Just exactly what is too big or too small to bother God with in prayer?

We continue on in chapter 33 of Jeremiah, the Israelites have chosen to live in their sinful debauchery over living in the ways God has clearly instructed them. As a result, God has empowered the Babylonian army to conquer the city of Jerusalem and carry off the people, 70 years of corrective slavery in their future. But as God so eloquently told us earlier in Jeremiah 29:11, He has a bright future full of hope for them, all they must do is repent, turn back to God, and acknowledge Him and live in His statutes. And just how was it possible for them to inform Him of their repentant decision? Well, they simply needed to pick up the phone and call Him…through the power of prayer.

One of the biggest miracles the Christ-follower holds is the power of prayer. Prayer is not a gimmick, a genie wish, or hollow empty words delivered into thin air. Prayer is the God-gifted ability for His redeemed children to speak to and hear from the very One that created the universe, the very One that saved their soul. And prayer, more specifically God’s promise to hear our prayers, is delivered in at least 21 different verses in the Bible. I think God wants us to know that He is listening to our prayers.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer.” 1 Peter 3:12

“And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.” 1 John 5:14

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” Psalm 34:17

And my favorite verse on prayer, stating that He hears, knows, and even answers our prayers before our lips even speak the need.

“Before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

So if you are confident in God’s promise that you can actually speak to and hear from Him, petitioning Him in prayer with your every need and concern, and He hears you, the question is…how often are you using this unbelievable spiritual tool?

Whether big, small, or seemingly indifferent, cast all of your cares, needs, and yes, even praises upon the Lord through the power of prayer. As our study verse so eloquently states, there are a myriad of things in this life and of this world that we simply do not have the capacity to understand, and that’s ok. God didn’t build us and equip us to have all the answers. Why? Well, because He does have all the answers, and He wants to talk to His kids. Pick up the phone and call Him. No matter big or small, complex or simple, silly or serious, pick up the phone and call upon the Lord in prayer. For you see, a faithful prayer life is not defined as one long prayer each day, but 1,000 small. And for each of the 1,000, He is faithful to hear you, and in His perfect timing His answers promise to enlighten your heart about the great and unsearchable things that are sure to pepper your existence here on this planet. The power of prayer is a great miracle held in the hands of those that call Christ their Savior. I encourage you to use it at every possible moment…without ceasing.

~ May the complicated be made simple through your prayers to the Lord today ~ Dan

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

drama in focus, San Francisco, Nayurit, Mexico