Alex on #Prayer

Read these three scenarios and see if you can identify with them.

#1 - Clara is a nice girl and she always wants to hang out with people. Sometimes she can come off as a little bit needy, though, because she's upset if one of her friends can't hang out on the weekends. She's always asking them to come over or to do something with her. If they don't want to spend time with her or take her places, she becomes upset.

#2 - Jason's dad has been emotionally absent from his life. Sure, his parents are still together and his dad lives in his house, but his dad doesn't normally take him to sports games or anything like that. When Jason brings home straight A report cards, his dad treats Jason well, but as soon as Jason makes a B or C, his dad is angry. Likewise with making sports teams or school organizations. Jason feels like he is constantly vying for his father's acceptance and support.

#3 - Rachel and her boyfriend are attending colleges in different states. Trying to maintain their relationship from high school as they start attending college has been very difficult, not to mention staying in touch. They keep up conversation by texting goodnight every evening and by calling to talk every Thursday, the day neither of them have work or other activities. It's still difficult, and sometimes Rachel wonders if she's still getting through to him.

I chose these specific scenarios because I believe that they all relate to God. Look back up and see if you recognize your relationship with God in them.

I'll help you out: You are like "Clara" if you constantly want stuff from God without developing a deep relationship with him. Maybe it's material things, certain feelings, or relationships. You are like "Jason" if you think that God doesn't accept you for who you are or that he isn't interested in your life. But you may be like "Rachel" - it's hard to endure a "long-distance" relationship with God, but you're trying your best to sustain it.

Listen, there are 3 things God is NOT. God is not a vending machine; God is not mad at you; and God is not far away from you.

In reality, God loves you. He will always give you what you need, not necessarily what you want. God wants to hear from you when things are bad, and when things are good. God desires that we tell him everything. Like Aaron said, "Tell God the truth. He's big enough to handle it." God wants to communicate with us just the way we are.

Think about it this way: When you send a text message to Twitter or Facebook Mobile, send up a prayer to God. If your status says, "Varsity was awesome!", then thank God for Varsity and the people who put it together. God wants to know what's on your mind. Go tell him!