Dial 911 for God …

When I was a kid, if an emergency occurred and you needed assistance, you grabbed a telephone and dialed “0” for the operator.

Why?

Because the 911 emergency system didn’t exist. So you called the operator, who would then connect you with the appropriate emergency services.

The 911 emergency system came into being when I was was a child, and I remember the repeated emphasis by both teachers in school and my parents at home to never call 911 unless it was truly an emergency.

Fortunately, I’ve had only one personal experience that required me to call 911. It’s great having a simple means to access emergency aid if it’s ever needed.

I think a lot of times people see God as a 911 operator. Many people are driven to interaction with God based on circumstances rather than relationship. When things go wrong and we need help, we call in God … but not before. When you’re facing something bigger than what you can handle, when you just don’t have the strength or the knowledge or the ability, you finally hit the knees and place a call out to God.

Sometimes God allows hard times in our lives, one reason being to move us to deeper connection with Him. Even if we seek Him during such times, that becomes an empty experience if we only seek God for a fix. God wants to help, but what He wants more is the connection.

What brings you to God: A desire to interact in relationship with Him, or only time of needs? Life is designed to be experienced in an ongoing relationship with God, not in bursts of pleas and prayers for help. Take time to interact with God and grow the personal relationship with Him. Then you’ll find reaching out to Him in need is simple because you already have an ongoing connection.

Scotty