Connections

A friend of ours has a television for their son that is set up for tapes/DVDs only – no antenna, no cable connections.  Another has a computer for personal use, but no internet connection. They function just fine without social networking, breaking news and the latest on fashion fads.

On the other hand, I seriously missed my internet connectivity this week. After missing a couple of days of posting, I was so prepared Thursday morning with thoughts from the night before – only to find no internet connection. I was frustrated.  I could attempt a connection, with no response.

Oddly enough, that was the beginning of my Thursday post – no connection, no response. Habakkuk wrote:

The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! (Habakkuk 1:1-2 KJV)

There didn’t seem to be a connection, in spite of Habakkuk’s prayers. He wasn’t the lone example of this disconnect. Job certainly felt separated from God:

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. (Job 19:7 KJV)

David knew what would happen if he came to God in prayer inappropriately.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psalms 66:18 KJV)

The Bible tells us there are times prayer doesn’t help.

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. (Proverbs 28:9 KJV)

There is a disconnect, a hindrance.  Peter knew about this. There were many things listed in verses before and after:

... that your prayers be not hindered. … (1 Peter 3:7b KJV)

It is not necessary to repeat the Lord’s prayer word for word, but there are specific concepts that we should understand and utilize:

Acknowledge Who we are addressing and give Him honor.
Make our request based on our needs.
Forgive others before requesting His forgiveness.
Ask for directions.
Bend before His will.

We have a tendency to ask for what we want without acknowledging His position, and we are slow to say thanks or seek His will. At least, that applies for me way too often.  Christ explained that our Father is not only capable of giving what we need, He knows what is best:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:7-11 KJV)

We need to keep the connection between us and our Lord strong. Fortunately, we have instructions:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)