369. Connected — How And To What?

I noticed that Stan was looking around the restaurant as if looking for someone or something. 

“Are you looking for someone?” I asked him.

“No.  Sorry.  Just observing,” he responded.  “Have you ever noticed how many people spend what amount of time looking at their cell phones?”

“I have,” I replied.  “Many people are continuously connected.  It’s almost like an addiction.”

“Continuously connected,” Stan repeated.  “That’s a good way to describe it.”  

“Just think,” he added, “how great it would be if that many people sought to be continually connected with God.”

“Is that possible?” I asked.

“Not only possible,” Stan replied,  “but I think that is what God intends for me, for you, and all who claim to be His.”

“You really believe that?” I replied.

“I do,” Stan responded.  “And I think the apostle Paul, to name just one, also believed that.  Paul wrote about being devoted to prayer, as well as praying without ceasing.”

Continuing, he said, “I think that prayer is not just for prayer meetings or when people gather together to pray.  Those kind of get-togethers are great, but I believe that prayer is intended to be a continuous conversation with God.  Prayer is to be a lifestyle of constant contact with God.”

“If that is true,” I responded, “won’t prayer get in the way of getting anything else done?”

“Nope,” Stan said emphatically.  “If I am constantly and continuously connected with the Lord God Almighty, His Holy Spirit will lead me with assurance that I am going to be doing all He has for me to do.”

“Modern technology is a great way to be connected with others and with other things, but it has to be kept in the proper perspective.  I cannot let the modern outweigh the age-old provision of connectivity with the Creator of all.”

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Devote yourselves to prayer.  Colossians 4:3.

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you provide the way for continuous communication with you through prayer. I confess that way too often I do not stay in touch with you as you want. Please forgive me. And please, Lord, lead me in wanting to be connected with you in ways that far outweigh my desire to be connected to other things and people. Please build in me the desire to put connectivity with you high above anything else. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.