Have you ever been sitting in church when someone’s phone goes off? It’s both sad and funny at the same time. We’ve become so dependent on our cell phones that we don’t ever consider going anywhere without them.

Most people I know have let their land lines go and have become fully dependent on their cell phones. It’s as if we cannot stand the thought of being unavailable to people.

What about God?

Would you say that you make yourself as readily available to Him as you do the everyone else who calls you?

I believe God talks with us all the time. The question is, are we listening and if so, do we respond accordingly?

When someone calls you on your cell phone you have many options.

• You can answer the call.
• You can send it straight to voicemail.
• You can send a text message to let them know you aren’t available and that you’ll get back to them soon.

How do you respond when God calls you?

You have several options with Him, too, when He calls.

1. You can run like Jonah did. In Jonah 1:1-3 we read,

The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.”

The funny thing about God is, you can run from Him, but you can not hide. He tells us in Hebrews 4:13 that nothing is hidden from His sight. He knows where you are and what you’re up to, even if you try to hide from Him, so why bother?

2. You can argue like Moses did. In Exodus 3:10-11 Moses decides God doesn’t know what He’s talking about,

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

We always think we have to get our junk together before God can use us or we have to learn everything we’re supposed to know before we can be called to something. Hebrews 13:20-21 tells us that God equips us for what He calls us for, so stop arguing with Him.

3. We can answer His call like Isaiah did. Isaiah didn’t have a clue what God needed done in Isaiah 6:8. It didn’t matter to him. He just wanted to be God’s servant so he responded,

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

For reasons I can’t begin to explain, God has chosen for us to be His plan A and He doesn’t have a plan B. He never does. He doesn’t need one. Job 42:2 tells us the plans of the Lord are not thwarted. I personally love the way Beth Moore puts it,

You can bend your knees or He will break your legs, but either way you’re going down.”

He isn’t waiting for us to bring a certain skill set that He’s lacking. He is inviting us to partner with Him for our benefit. He lacks nothing. In fact, He just wants us to be willing. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:24, He will do the heavy lifting.

Wake up! God is calling. You might as well answer because He is more persistent than the most notorious telemarketer. He will get your attention one way or another. Just ask Jonah and Moses.

Answer the call!