Psalm 27:8 – My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming." (NLT)

One day, many years ago, after our boys had left home, I was in a melancholy mood and felt lonely for them. They were young adults, living their own lives, no longer under Mum's care. I missed just being able to chat with them and to know how they were doing. They were not the type of guys who would just pick up the phone and chat with me. Phones were for brief messages and arrangements, right? And it would be awkward for me, I thought, to ask them details of their lives over the phone. I wanted to know if they were okay, if they were eating properly, if they were using their time and money wisely, if they were living their lives according to God's plan for them. I just wanted to hug them, to share in their joys and successes.

I know that in their busy lives, the boys don't think about their mother as much as I think about them. It would be nice, though, to hear their voice over the phone, to have them say that they were thinking about me. I would just like them to say, "I love you, Mum!"

Then it struck me.

This is how God feels about His children. He would love it if we picked up the phone, so to speak, just to chat with Him. Although God is all-knowing, He simply wants to hear our voice, and for us to tell Him anything. He wants to hear all about our needs, our troubles, and our hopes. He is longing for us to ask for His wisdom, or to say, "I love You, Lord."

Often, however, we don't talk to God. We get too busy to read the Bible. Sometimes, we get so involved with "stuff" that we can't even manage a one-minute prayer. We get so involved with the things of this world that we can't discern God's longing for us. He knows that we love Him, but He wants to hear it from us.

But it's easier to talk to God than to reach our friends by phone. He is always there and available. We just have to stop, open our mouths, and speak. Why, He can even read our thought prayers! We don't have to worry over our concerns and keep them to ourselves. We can tell Him our innermost needs, any time, any place.

One evening, we did meet with two of our sons at the bowling alley. They hugged me and kept coming over to me to touch me and tell me things. My mother's heart was warmed. Let's warm the heart of the Father by coming to Him and connecting with Him!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your longing for us. May we take time to connect with You to gladden Your heart. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.