When I was dating the man who is now my husband of 12 years, I was in undergraduate school in Atlanta while he was in undergraduate school in Chicago. This would be classified as a long distance relationship. During this time (around 1996 to 1997) in order to talk on the phone, it required long distance telephone service.

These long distance calls cost amazing amounts of money. Thus, every time we talked, it would be in the back of our minds that we couldn’t stay on the phone forever because the long distance rates were more than what we could afford as struggling college students.

After experiencing so many long distance bills in my past, I was so excited when times changed regarding long distance telephone service! Now, through cell phones, you can have a service package in which you can make unlimited ‘long-distance’ calls anywhere in the continental U.S. without minute by minute charges. What a difference an unlimited plan makes!

I can now call friends and family anywhere in the country without having to be mindful or fearful of an upcoming astronomical phone bill. I don’t have to hang up when I have more to say because I can’t afford it. That’s the benefit of the unlimited plan: talking freely at length without minutes in mind!

Our Father in heaven has gifted us with an amazing communication system with Him called prayer. It is an Unlimited Plan!

You can’t run out of minutes. Your service can never be terminated or suspended. He’s given us insurance and assurance that He will always be in the business of hearing and answering our prayers.

The Unlimited Plan that God has designed for us includes:

* Unlimited Communication (Talk Time): You will never run out of minutes.

* Unlimited Coverage: Where ever you are, He’s with you!

* Unlimited (Direct) Contact: You can go directly to Him.

Unlimited Communication or Talk Time is a clear benefit according to 1Thessalonians 5:17-18 which states “Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Unlimited Coverage is a definite benefit according to Psalm 139:7-10 which exclaims, “where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.”

Unlimited Direct Contact is another obvious benefit. We don’t need another person to be our ‘carrier.’ Since Jesus shed His blood, we can pray to directly God for ourselves! Hebrews 10:19-22 states, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.”

* Warning: Even with the unlimited plan, your call may get dropped if you are praying with unforgiveness in your heart, head or hands. In Mark 11:25, Jesus says, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

There is power in prayer because it is God’s Unlimited Plan for communication with us. There is no need to rush off of the line when you have the unlimited plan!

Today, take the time to take advantage of the fact that when talking to God you do not have to be mindful of your minutes!

by Dr. Tara Jenkins