No passwords required
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
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Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord (Psalm 130:1).
Read Psalm 130
As my friends know, in the unlikely event of being elected prime minister, there are a few things that I would make mandatory: all women’s dresses and trousers will have proper pockets; frisbee throwing will be compulsory; all passwords will be outlawed.
As a mature citizen of the world, I find passwords annoying – maybe they are a plot by the Silicon Valley boffins to make people of my generation and older feel overwhelmed and confused by all the passwords required to access just about everything. There are times I could weep with frustration at my inability to undertake basic tasks because I can’t manipulate a website or have forgotten my password. And it all just seems to be getting worse.
However, we can talk to God through prayer at any time of day or night. Even better, God does not discriminate between elegant, well-formulated, grammatically correct prayers and wordless cries from the heart.
The psalmist understood this. The psalmist also understood that God hears our prayers and that God’s unfailing love is the source of our hope and the fulfilment of our prayers. Martin Luther suggested that when we pray, our prayers should contain:
- praise – acknowledging how amazing God is
- thanksgiving – giving thanks for answered prayers and the many blessings we receive
- supplication – asking for what we need
- intercession – praying for others
- confession – telling God about how we have done wrong and asking for forgiveness.
God listens to us always. God cares for us and will lift our burdens. There is comfort to be found in prayer. And as God responds to us, all that is required in return is to love and trust God’s goodness. As we do that, we can have a thankful heart that seeks ways to serve God and share God’s love with others.
Thankfully, we do not require a password to access God. And God’s battery never goes flat or needs recharging. And there’s more: you don’t have to remember to take God with you. God is always there.
Listening God, thank you for always being there for me and hearing my prayers. Thank you for your unfailing mercy. Strengthen my faith in you so that I put my trust in your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Colleen has a husband, two daughters, three granddaughters and a wide range of extended family and friends. She lives in Adelaide and loves the way the various parts of her life intersect. Colleen is involved in numerous committees within the church and community. She loves to read. Colleen coordinates her congregation’s prayer group and is delighted to respond to requests for prayer from friends and family.
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