We” call” someone when we try to get their attention. To call means to shout or cry out. Psalm 50:15 says, “And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
Little children usually call out to their parents when they need or want something. A loving parent will hear and come to the child’s aid and help them. How much more our loving Father God will help us when we call to Him in sincerity, knowing that He is the ONLY One who can satisfy our every need. He hears us and He WILL answer us! Psalm 120:1 confirms, “I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to Him, and He answered my prayer.” Perhaps Abba will answer us in a different way than we expect, but He always knows what is best for us. He always hears us! “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear” we are told in Isaiah 59:1
Isaiah 58 speaks about true fasting which our Lord requires from us, e.g. we need to break the chains of evil. We must set the oppressed free, share our food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. We must give clothes to those who need them and help our relatives who are in need. Then our light will break forth like the dawn, and our healing will quickly appear; our righteousness will go before us, and the glory of the LORD will protect us from behind. (Verses 6-8) Verses 9 and 10 continue, “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”
This portion reminds me of a hamburger…the conditions are set out first and last, and in between, in the middle, there is the meat of CALLING OUT. Our Lord expects obedience from us. Yes, he always, always hears us, but He deeply desires that we obey Him from hearts of love. Then, when we call out to Him in prayers, He is right there, willing to respond to our needs, because our hearts are in tune with HIS desires, not ours. Jeremiah 29:11 + 12 are prime examples where God says to us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Once we realize God’s calling upon our lives, it is easier to call upon Him according to His divine will for us.
Abba ALWAYS responds to His children when they call out to Him. Psalm 91:15 says, “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honour him.”
Precious Father God, thank You that You are close to ALL who call upon You. (Psalm 145:18) “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You.” (Psalm 86:5) Thank You for the beautiful words in Jeremiah 33:3 where You say, “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Abba Father, we draw near to You in faith and call upon You to hear us now. Amen
Myrtle Turunen