I needed a simple answer to a simple question from my bank. First I visited their website. After following literally dozens of links I still couldn't find the answer. I decided I had to phone them. I hate phoning them because of their annoying voice mail system.

It's if you want this department push this number. That takes you to another menu and another. Usually after following the menus and their vague choices I find myself at the first menu and having to repeat the process. That was the case this time as well.

Quite by accident I discovered that if I let the menu repeat three times without making a selection the computer got frustrated too and wanted to connect me to a real person. I was excited. What a novelty ... a person. The excitement lasted only a second because I was put on hold for the next available operator.

After what seemed an eternity, I got a real person and asked my question. She didn't know the answer but gave me another number to call. I called it and got a voice mail system. I let the menu repeat three times, was transferred put on hold and finally got through to another person. It took less than a minute to get my answer when I spoke to the right person, but it took almost an hour to get there. Frustrated doesn't cover the emotions I was feeling.

We often try and live our Christian walk that way. Instead of going to God's Word ourselves we simply read about the Bible or let others tell us what it says. We are blessed by ministries and missionaries but never actually get involved with our time and resources. We go to worship and feel good for an hour but it never seems to be satisfied. We chase the menu around and around never feeling fulfilled and never feeling empowered.

We need to skip the intermediate steps and go directly to the source.

It's good to listen to sermon, read devotionals and books about our faith, but those are only part of the equation. We need to read the Word ... daily.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2 NIV

We need to get involved in kingdom work.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20

Can't go because of health? Give and pray. Can't give? Do some hands on work and pray. There are lots of ways to become personally involved.

Our faith walk comes complete with built in power. That power is only available when we start to put it to use ourselves. Frustrated by your faith? Perhaps it's time to make go direct.

Until next time, skip the menu and go direct to the person in charge. Talk with Jesus direct, let Him lead, and do what He tells you.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed

Kevin