Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;  the Lord hears when I call to him. Psalm 4:3

What’s superior to the telephone, better than E-mail, outclasses radio, and surpasses even a direct satellite link? On top of that, what has a free sign up, doesn’t need operator assistance, is cordless, has crystal clear connections, instant messaging, unlimited minutes, no age requirement, worldwide accessibility, secure lines, never breaks down, is open 24 hours a day, and can be described as nothing short of the ultimate in wireless communication?

The answer – prayer. It’s the ultimate connection. The ne plus ultra. The best universal network this world has ever known.

And yet it seems to be a well-kept secret. It’s not listed on the stock exchange. It’s not advertised on T.V. The newspapers don’t say much about it. Many schools have banned it. The opposition has pooh-poohed it. And a whole lot of people have never even given it a try.

Which is somewhat surprising when you look at its track record. Down through the ages when people have prayed, amazing and supernatural things have happened. The poor have been fed, the sick have been healed, the anxious have discovered peace, broken relationships have been reconciled and restored, the foolish have been made wise, the sorrowful filled with joy, wars have been averted, the weary have been sustained, barren women have conceived, the troubled have been counselled, the lost have been found, the weak made strong, and in a few unique situations the dead have been brought back to life.

But that’s not surprising. For unlike any other communication device, prayer is a direct line to God. It transcends every other form of networking. It draws together the human and the divine. It’s a person to person call. And, as a result, it moves the hand which moves the world.

So why not use it today? It’s not complicated. It’s easier than a telephone. You don’t need a special format or recipe. The posture of your body isn’t important. You don’t need any unique language or grammatical ability. You can talk out loud or say it in your mind. And you don’t even have to close your eyes or go to a holy place. All you need is the faith to do it!

Did I say faith? Yes, all you need is the faith to do it. Which, as we well know, is where the rubber hits the road. For you will never be able to pray without faith. Faith and prayer go together. Without faith your prayers will be nothing more than an engaged signal. Not that God’s engaged. He’s always ready to talk and listen to you. The problem is that without faith you’re engaged.

Which brings me to the free sign up. If you want the phenomenal advantages of prayer, you need the faith to hook up. And in order to have the faith to hook you up you need to be “sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” Hebrews 11:1. That’s not as difficult as it seems. Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” And what is the word of Christ? The word of Christ is that God loves you, sent His Son to die for your sins, and that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord and trusts in Him, will be saved (cf. Romans 10:6-13).

There you have it. Once you have faith you have access to God through prayer. You’re signed up, hooked in, connected day and night. Which means He will always hear when you call (cf. Psalm 4:3). And He will always listen when you cry out (cf. Psalm 55:17).

So enjoy prayer. Speak as long as you like. Use it every day. And make it a habit to keep the line open. For prayer is the ultimate connection – the summit of communication.