Voicemails to God: Where Do You Make Time for Him?

My youngest grandson recently asked me, “Does God have a voicemail? Because it seems like he has a lot of people talking to Him.” Then he asked me a second question. “Do you think He hears all of our prayers? There are a lot of people praying, I think. I talk to Him a lot. Do you think He hears me?”

His questions got me thinking. Are we really praying very often in this busy world, or are we consumed by its busyness?

When we seek God, we need to put aside thoughts of everything else. God is above all and in all. Our communion with Him transcends both time and circumstances. We should constantly be prepared to be blessed bountifully by Him because He is a God of unlimited abundance. But we also need to open our hearts and minds to receive Him. I have found that when our joy in Him meets His joy in us, there are fireworks. It is eternal life in the here and now; a foretaste of what is to come. Now we see only a poor reflection as in a clouded mirror. But one day we will see face to face.

We need to trust God in all of our thoughts. Some thoughts are conscious and some are unconscious. God does not hold us responsible for those. But we can direct our conscious thoughts more than we realize. We need to practice thinking in certain ways—trusting and thanking God. Those thoughts will become more natural with practice. We need to reject negative and sinful thoughts as soon as we become aware of them. According to Scripture, this way of thinking will keep our minds on God and our feet on paths of peace.

The world is waiting to squeeze us into its mold and crowd out our time devoted to God. The ways of the world have also warped our consciousness and pushed us away from the very thing that pleases God most—seeking Him. We need to listen to Him above all the noise, distraction, divisiveness, and voices that are constantly distracting us. We need to find time to be still and attentive in his presence.

We tend to feel guilty about pushing back the boundaries of our life to make space for God-for time alone with Him. But I have found that that is a joyous privilege, and it feels like a luxury.

We should draw near to Him with a thankful heart, being aware that our cup is overflowing with blessings. Gratitude enables us to perceive God more clearly and to rejoice in our relationship. Because, according to Scripture, nothing can separate us from his loving presence. I have held tightly to that promise through many unpleasant and sometimes terrifying circumstances. I have found that it is the very essence of our security. Whenever we start to feel anxious, we need to remind ourselves that our security lies in God alone. And He is totally trustworthy. We will never be in control of life’s circumstances, but we can relax and trust in God’s control.

I have learned that instead of striving for a completely predictable safe lifestyle, we should seek to know God in greater breadth and depth. God longs to make our life a glorious adventure but we need to stop clinging to old ways. He is always doing something new within us and our loved ones. Our job is to keep a lookout for all that He has planned.

It seems like we all make a pastime out of judging ourselves or others. Actually, He is the only one capable of judging! And I believe that He is not pleased when he hears us judge or indulge in self-hatred. If we live close to Him and spend time absorbing His word he will guide and correct as needed.

When we worship God in Spirit and truth we join with choirs of angels who are continually worshiping. Though we cannot hear their voices, our praise and thanksgiving are distinctly audible to God. Our petitions are also heard but it is the gratitude that clears the way to God’s heart. When the way between us and God is wide open, His blessings fall upon us with abundance. The greatest blessing is nearness to God with abundant joy and peace in his presence. According to Scripture, we should practice praising Him and thanking Him throughout every day.

Because He guides us constantly, we can relax and enjoy His presence in the present. Living well is both a discipline and an art. We must concentrate on staying close to the divine artist! We need to discipline our thoughts to trust God as He works in our life. Pray about everything but leave outcomes to Him. Take a deep breath and dive into the depths of absolute trust in God. And underneath the chaos of this world we will find His everlasting arms.

And as we spend time soaking in God’s presence, we are energized and lightened. When we commune with Him, we transfer our heavy burdens to Him. By gazing at Him we gain valuable perspective on our life. This time with God is essential for unscrambling our thoughts and smoothing out the day before us.

But we have to fight for precious time with Him. Opposition comes in many forms—our own desire to linger in bed, distractions of this world, the pressure of friends, and our own internal critic to spend our time more productively.

But as we grow to please God above all else, we gain strength to resist these opponents. So, I answered my grandson by saying, "You can talk to God throughout every day and he hears every word. And He loves it that you keep talking to Him. He doesn’t need voicemail because he hears you, he loves you, and He loves it that you are talking to Him."