It has never been used. And that is good!
I expect many people have such devices in their homes.
Like a smoke alarm, it’s there for emergency use, so we hope it doesn’t have to be employed at all.
As I polished off the dust, it got me thinking about how people pray.
I fear that a lot of folks turn to prayer about as often as they use their fire extinguishers.
I call it ‘Fire Extinguisher Faith’. It seems to be used in emergencies only.
But God is not a Triple Zero Operator!
God is our loving Creator who is keen to hear from us, God’s kids, every day of our lives.
Jesus, God’s Son, who came from Heaven to Earth, taught many valuable life lessons, including how to talk to our Heavenly Father.
You may have heard of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ or the ‘Our Father’.
Jesus taught that prayer, not to use as a ritual only, or in times of crisis, like a fire extinguisher, but as an example to show us the kind of things we might say when we talk to God at any time.
Like an emergency operator, God is always ready to hear from us. He’s only a prayer away. Why not give it a try today?
Jesus said: ‘‘This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one’ (Matthew 6:9-13).’’
~ Contributed by Pastor Jack Lindquist of St Andrew’s Uniting Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
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