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Kristine Trudeau
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PRBS18.TXT
VIRUS ALERT: PRAYER VIRUS!
BY KRISTINE TRUDEAU
I was positive my days of frustration about my computer problems
were over. I felt good - I felt free - I felt like getting some sleep.
I closed my eyes, only to have a picture of an e-mail screen with a
stuck "send" arrow, flash behind my eyelids. Then these words came to
me. "The problems you're having with your computer are the same
problems you have with prayer." "Does this mean I have to get up?"
asked. I already knew the answer. God was about to show me that my
computer had a virus and so did my prayer life.
I'm normally a patient person, but a malfunctioning computer can get
under my skin in a hurry. For a week, I had been dealing with
dysfunctional e-mail. By the time I broke down and made a long distance
call to my computer-expert uncle, I was not happy. Uncle Charles walked
me through some steps to unstick my e-mail. When we hung up, I was
smiling and sure the problems were solved. They had just begun.
Within 24 hours, I discovered a friend had accidentally passed a
computer virus to me. I inadvertently had been passing it to all my
email buddies (friends and family).
This virus affects your ability to access your internet server, causes
frequent line disconnects and locks up your e-mail. It is passed to
everyone you e-mail without you knowing it until it's too late. Had I
not discovered the virus when I did, it would have done permanent
damage to my computer system and others as well.
I have learned that God always talks to me in a language I can
understand. He meets me where I am in every aspect of my life. This
time was no exception. He showed me the correlation between the
computer virus and my problems in prayer.
Unable to access the server
A server is the main computer that provides access to the internet
provider through a phone line. The server is the lifeline to everything
of importance on the web. When I can't access it, I'm dead as far as
the net is concerned.
In the same way, Jesus is my server. He's my lifeline to everything of
importance in this life and life eternal. When I can't access him, my
spiritual life is dead. John 1:3,4 says that Jesus made everything and
his life is the light of men.
Sin Virus
The computer virus represents sin. Sin causes destruction. (See
Romans6:23 end Hebrews 12:1). Most computer viruses are designed to do
more than create minor nuisances; they are designed to destroy files
and/or wipe out entire hard drives. Worse, they are contagious.
Sin in my life was making it difficult to access my server Jesus. "As
righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to
his own death." (Proverbs 11: 19) If I continued in my sin, it would
destroy me and ultimately affect others.
Eliminating the virus
Once I discovered the computer virus, I contacted all my friends and
family that I had infected. Confession time! Talk about humiliating.
Most were understanding. Some weren't. They all had a question that
still rings in my ears. "What, you don't have a virus program?". I do
now.
I cleaned up the computer virus through confession to those I infected
and a program to clean up my hard drive.
In the same way, I cleaned up my prayer life. I confessed my sins to
the Lord, and allowed his Holy Spirit to clean up my heart-my hard
drive. (See Proverbs 28:13 and I John 1:9)
God showed me other areas where I was having problems with prayer.
Line disconnects
The frequent disconnects on line corresponded to the distractions I
experienced while trying to pray. I allowed everyday worries and little
things to interrupt my time with him.
He showed me how to use a prayer journal. (See Habakkuk 2:2,3, Psalms,
and Revelations) He showed me how through praying the scriptures (See
Isaiah 55: 11, Psalms 33:4, Proverbs 30:5 and Psalms 119:105), I would
be using his word and ultimately be in his will. Then he reminded me
that I didn't have to stay in the same position or pray in the same
location to be heard. (See Deuteronomy 9:25, Daniel 6:10 and Matthew
6:6)
All of these changes helped me to stay focused on Jesus. He knows that
when I write or read, I don't hear anything it's my nature. After
implementing journaling and praying the scriptures, I found it
necessary to move from my usual prayer position. More often than not, I
now get up earlier and head for the church before going to work. If
there are distractions in church, I pray in the car. It doesn't matter.
It was great to discover the changes that fit my nature were
scriptural. I felt like dancing!
Stuck on "send"
The most illuminating part of God's lesson was the stuck "send" e-mail
arrow. The arrow was locked for a week. I figured, because of the time
involved, this was one part of the lesson where God wanted me to pay
close attention.
The obnoxious little green arrow continued to fly through the air,
going nowhere, sending nothing. My original message had grown stale.
The entire e-mail program was locked. I couldn't send, but I couldn't
receive either.
"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalms 46:10) The message was loud
and clear.
Often when I pray, I forget that prayer is communication. Communication
involves listening as much, if not more than talking. I get stuck on
"send." I do all the talking and fail to let God speak. (See Isaiah
28:23, John 10:27 and Revelations 3:20)
For the first time in my life, I am thankful for computer problems.
This lesson in prayer has helped to heal my relationship with the Lord
and has opened new doors of understanding.
Where once I felt like my prayers weren't getting past the ceiling, I
now feel the presence of my precious Savior as I talk with him. Areas I
found difficult to understand in the scriptures have opened up to me.
His Holy Spirit is teaching me things I never dreamed I would
comprehend. Because of this, my life has been enriched.
Now, I can go to bed, not positive the days of my computer problems are
over. But, I feel truly good - truly free - and I don't care if I get
any sleep, especially if God wants to talk to me.
Kristine Trudeau is a mother and grandmother from Villa Grove, Illinois
(Pastor Jerry Conner). She serves as Billing Manager and Pharmacy Tech,
for VG Pharmacy, and works for Retail Management Solutions (from
Washington state). She installs POS Systems and trains personnel in
their use.
THE ABOVE MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH
PURPOSES ONLY.
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