“Caroline Rebekah,” my iPhone announced. My daughter set up my cell to announce my calls so when I’m busy studying or writing or when I’m occupied with one of the children, reading a book or playing along with one of their elaborate imaginations, I can continue without interruption unless it’s someone special calling. When she backs out of their garage for their weekly grocery run, even two year old Timothy now says, “Call Lolly, Mom.” Living two hours away means at times, our calls allow us to just to be together. I get to experience whatever they’re doing in their day to day life unfiltered. The boys know I’m there in spirit and if I’m quiet for too long, Thomas will ask, “Are you still there, Lolly?” Those simple words bring me so much joy!
Imagine our Heavenly Father’s delight when we linger in His presence. Think how He longs to hear your voice each day. He walked in the garden in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve, and He invites us to walk by faith, boldly approaching His throne of grace in Christ Jesus. How many times each day am I waiting, my mind wandering aimlessly or my hands scrolling pointlessly that I could repurpose by filling with conversation with my Heavenly Father? Rather than allowing random thoughts to crowd my head, how could I be redeeming the time, taking each thought captive to obey Christ?
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.4.6-7.NLT
“Never stop praying.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1th.5.17.NLT
“be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1th.5.17-19.AMP
Too often I allow worry to consume my thoughts, knowing full well that Jesus tells me not to worry about everyday life, whether I have enough food to eat or clothes to wear, asking, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”
Luke 12:25-26, 30-31 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.12.25-31.NLT
Life means having hard conversations, feeling helpless at times, and grieving losses but it also guarantees celebrations and rejoicing. Our Heavenly Father knows it all even before it becomes a thought or a spoken word. He stands ready to help process what runs amok inside our heads if we take it continually to Him.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
1 Peter 5:7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.5.7.NLT
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for.
But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Romans 8:26-28 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.26-28.NLT
When my phone rings and I hear my daughter’s voice, I would never respond by rolling my eyes or saying, “Not again!” I am delighted to know she is thinking of me or needs me in some way. In the same way, God never tires of you. You will never be labeled too needy, too desperate, too demanding, too annoying, or too clingy. He will never put you on hold and forget to click back over or accidentally cut you off. His signal never drops and a dying battery will never interrupt His presence.
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.”
Lamentations 3:22-26 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/lam.3.22-26.NLT
“The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.”
Psalms 34:15, 17-19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.34.15-19.NLT
I fidgeted, reclining next to the head of my granddaughter’s bed, waiting for her to fall asleep. I hadn’t even thought to ask God to bless her slumber. My mind raced ahead to all the things I needed to be doing next. Jesus’s words overwhelmed me in an instant.
“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!
There is only one thing worth being concerned about.
Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.””
Luke 10:41-42 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.10.42.NLT
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalms 19:14 NLT
A Fitting Reply 