Imagine having a standing appointment with the President of the United States every morning, either by a direct-line phone call or a cup of coffee with your name on it waiting in the Oval Office. Every day for an unlimited period of time, you could lay out all your requests, cares and concerns that triggered his action.

Have a family member that needs medical care? He could assign the top doctors in the country. Suffering from immense anxiety or sadness? He would have the country’s most capable counselors awaiting his call. Concerned about the influences in your kids’ lives? It would be his top priority.

All that troubled you would tug on his ear, and he would eagerly await that meeting every morning ready to intently listen and even serve your needs. And there would be no qualm or concern too large or too small for his attention. All would be put on hold for you. Would you ever miss that appointment?

In a similar yet infinitely greater way, we have that open line to the all-powerful Creator of the universe available every moment of every day. James 5:13-16 says: “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. … Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

God’s schedule is never too busy for us, and his attention is never divided for those who love and serve Him. But scripture tells us that at least a couple of things are required of us to access God’s ear. First, we must obey Him. “Powerful and effective” prayers are available to the “righteous.” That does not mean perfection, as Romans 3:22-23 tells us, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But does our behavior show that we want our requests answered?

Our intentions to live righteously hold at least part of the key to accessing God’s aid in healing that illness, easing our despair or guiding our children to the right path. If we ache in wanting a long lost soul found and recovered, we must show the recognition of God’s immense power through our obedience. Love requires that we keep our conscience as clean as possible so our prayers are effective.

And secondly, we must keep our appointment, and do so consistently. Even easier than picking up a phone or sitting in a chair, we can access God’s guidance, power and protection with a slight pause amid our day and a mustard seed worth of faith (Matthew 17:20). Too often we seek His counsel only in times of trouble, yet the door is always open and we must merely knock (Matthew 7:7).

So we must live as if the Almighty’s hand depends on our obedience, because in some ways it does. And always know that he is eagerly awaiting our prayers, facing the door and ready for our arrival. Don’t miss your appointment.

– Adam Sparks