O2 mobile ‘phone customers were wondering what had gone wrong last week when their mobiles just did not work! Other providers were also affected as due to some major software failure. All this happened in the early hours of last Wednesday when calls, texts and e mail access was completely lost. If it was, as we were told a ‘systems issue’ it was major embarrassment for O2 as a provider and a massive inconvenience for us all as customers. Fortunately, by the end of the day services were gradually being restored when whatever went wrong was eventually dealt with. Networks such as O2 have, of course created a new era of communication that we would never have thought possible. Its mind boggling how quickly communication is increasing. I wonder what next the phone in our pockets will be able to do? Photos, videos, can be sent to the furthest coroner of the earth at the press of a button and with new technological advancements increasing speeds of communication. I’m just in amazement!
Long before Alexander Graham Bell thought of the telephone God gave us the wonderful gift of prayer. How prayer actually works is as much a mystery to me as this latest communication technology. It’s worth, however, has been proved so many times in the lives of those who believe that God hears the prayers of those who turn to him. Prayer, of course, is not confined to time and space, it does not dependant on systems or technological expertise. It’s as simple as a child coming to his or her Father and knowing that he listens and cares because within the greatness and glory of the God who fills the universe is a Father’s heart of love reaching to all who call upon him. There may be times when the answers we want never seem to come and our faith is tested. It is then we need to be reminded that God has eternity to work out his purposes and that all the prayers we offer for the good of ourselves and others are heard by him and answered according to his will. Jesus said ‘Ask and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. The lines are open, they never go down, and the God who hears our prayers is always there for us.
