Imagine praying and hearing this: “Thank you for calling My Father’s House. Please select one of the following options:

bullet Press 1 for thanksgiving

bullet Press 2 for requests

bullet Press 3 for complaints

bullet Press 4 for all other inquiries.”

What if God used the familiar line we’ve all heard when trying to get through to a company or office at peak-traffic times? “All the angels are helping other customers right now. Please stay on the line, and your call will be answered in the order it was received. Have a nice day! If you would like to hear King David sing one of his favorite Psalms while you are on hold, press 23, followed by the pound sign.”

And here are some messages we’ll never hear . . .

Bullet”Our office is closed for the weekend. Please call again Monday after 9 a.m.” bullet”Our computers show that you have already called twice today. Please hang up and try again tomorrow.”

There’s a perfectly serious point to this delightfully fanciful thought. Our God has high-traffic capabilities for handling our frequent requests. As trivial as some of them are, he is always available. As panicked as we are in some situations, he never puts us “on hold” about being heard. As sinful as we have been, there is never a busy signal or circuit overload in heaven. God really is as close as a whispered (or screamed) prayer.

Your prayer doesn’t have to be articulate. It doesn’t have to fit someone’s prescribed formula. It simply has to be from your heart, honest and sincere.

Rubel Shelly The FAX of Life