A.T.M.

Imagine a world where your parents, children, siblings, spouse, maybe even favorite cousin or best friend devoted all or most of their attention to themselves, their work/career, housekeeping or home upgrades, social pages (like Facebook or Twitter), shopping, detailing their car(s), traveling, fancy dinners, TV & movies, business trips, gadgets, music, video games, hobbies, fitness, and at this point, I'm pretty certain you're able to add 3 additional examples of your own.  I can only imagine their world being pretty luxurious, surrounded by breathtaking sceneries and beautiful flowers... until clouds start forming and hail storms of chaos roll in, destroying their perfectly self-maintained haven.

A sickness was reported on their yearly physical, or an accident has left them hospitalized.  Rumors that their company is downsizing and their job is about to be eradicated surface.  Or because the excess shopping and misuse of money has left them holding a Cup-O-Crispy-Over-Processed-Styrofoam-Noodles, wanting at least a slice of spam.  (which, ew, I'd rather have the freeze-dried noodles)...

Could it be, the reason they are now calling you, after a substantial amount of time has passed, be due to a breakup?  Needing someone that has proven to be a faithful friend, to now care for them and be a listening ear?  To come over with Ben n Jerry's and participate in a sobbing party?  To provide a list of ways to get their lover back, or have you speak wonderful things on their behalf.  Perhaps the overdraft fees, foreclosure, or incarceration is what brought upon the sudden urge to reach out you, after weeks, months and maybe years of unreturned calls.  Whatever the scenario, I believe, that after continual disregard and misuse of your love & devotion to them, your impulse (as a human) - your feelings and possibly desire to keep your connection or bond with that individual - would immediately side in favor of either ignoring them, abandoning them or confronting them.

Isn't it wonderful, that the penalty we are deserving of - when treating God like an ATM...

Automatic.
Taking.
Machine.

...is absolutely NOT what His Divine character allows Him to carry out?

God is Loving.  Full of Grace.  His intention, from the beginning of time, has been to create a people who truly desire Him.  A people who will worship, walk with and talk to Him on a consistent and daily basis.  Involve Him in all aspects of living.  Planning.  Ideas.  Hopes & Dreams.

If we could come to the understanding of who God is, as opposed to what God can do for us, our reaction and attraction towards Him will begin to shift.

For many years I had my substantial use of the "God A.T.M."                

I went to Him when I was about to be busted for writing a love letter to a boy in JHS, that spoke about how cute his eyes were.

I went to Him when I needed a quick miracle… like making the M15 bus hurry along, since I was over 30 minutes late for work (yet again), and had already been written up for tardiness several times in that one month.

I even went to Him when my house wasn’t clean enough to have surprise guests over, hoping He would make my arms and legs scurry faster in order to at least wash & put away last night’s dishes, and dust the crumbs off my couch.

Sure, these examples seem funny and simple, but if we’re being honest with ourselves (which is what I strive to do this year), then we can chuckle over them, but also agree to being guilty of them.  

God is much more than a quick fix.  I’ve come to know a God that is interested in day to day life; even silly crushes.  He wants to provide insight on that person of interest.  He wants us to, sure, enjoy the "butterflies" stage, but look deeper into who that person really is, and what their intentions are, and decide if they're worth our butterflies.

Are they beneficial to my spiritual growth? 
Are they going to lead me to be a better child of God? 
Will they pray for me to develop a better strategy when I struggle with waking up early enough to go to work because I spent the entire night writing in my diary or scrolling through Facebook? 

Whatever you wish to call, where your most intimate thoughts and feelings are stored, why not share that with God first, or instead?  Why not make it a habit to speak with Him with whatever is on your mind?

He wants your enhanced connection to Him to benefit you and sweetly remind you that before bed you should set your alarm 30 minutes earlier (maybe use that time to spend it with Him before you start your day and find yourself tired enough to miss your nightly chat as well).  Maybe that enhanced connection will pop a thought in your mind to throw a load to wash after work, and pack your lunch for the next day; because you just may enjoy that early morning worship time so much that you sing right past 3 alarms and all you have time left for is a quick shower, pulling a clean dress out of the dryer and grabbing your salad kit. 

What have you deposited into your relationship with God lately?  Or should I rephrase it to, have you deposited into your relationship with God at all this week?  This month?  This year?
Is your God Bank empty?

He doesn’t ask much.  

Just your heart.  

Just to put Him first.  

Above your crush or spouse. 
Above your peer's approval or appearance.

Above feeling part of the clique at school or work.

He desires our heart, wholeheartedly.   

And because we know the word of God declares in 

1 Peter 3:12 (NIV) For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

...then we know He will take care of our needs.   He lends His ear to those that are in constant reverence to Him.  Let's not rely on making Facebook prayer requests, when seeing the tempest approaching.  We have the ability to be our own prayer warrior! 

[On a side note: if you're wondering about the "do evil" portion of the above verse, that would take this post in a different direction that I'm not focused on at the moment...]

God is trustworthy.  He will never bring us to a point of despair.  Like your crush - who you found has 3 other love interests.  Causing you to regret the substantial amount of time you spent focusing on  your appearance, how long it takes for them to text you, if you will be going out this weekend.  

Let’s be mindful of how we treat God.  Wonderful and unimaginative things happen when we move Him from our "Automatic Taking Machine", to "Adored & Treasured Master".

Having a deep & real connection, and relationship, with Him triggers the next idea and the motivation to get it done. 

And like I said, I’ve failed at this many times.  With many other reasons that I choose not to share (just yet), but I have learned to change the order of my interest.  Putting Him first each day, gave me the opportunity and the allowance to tap into Him when I needed Him to give me the job I wanted, or the help I needed to complete a project; and be in the midst of people that I cannot relate to.

See to it that the next time you ask for something, the answer isn’t returned “Insufficient Amount”.  Let’s deposit more love, more time and more attention into our God Banks.  Not only is the experience of spending quality time with God rewarding, but the effects of it are eternal.

Ephesians 5:15-20 (NIV) Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.  Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.