Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional
The “Press G9” Prayer

By Hal Steenson | September 30

“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. … For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” Matthew 6:7–8

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Mollie and I were on vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains and had just eaten a wonderful lunch that included a lot of onions and garlic. I needed some breath mints, so I headed for the third floor of our hotel and located the snack machine. There, on the bottom row, was just what I needed—Peppermint Life Savers—80 cents!​

The snack machine accepted dollar bills, so I pulled out my buck and located the correct number to push. (I’ve been known to push the wrong button, ending up with a little box of toothpicks—or lip balm!) There was the number I needed—right next to the price—G9.

Now you have to understand how my mind works. You see, I store things I really don’t want or need, and I do it automatically and systematically. For me, the “G” stood for God, and the “9” represented the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. So no problem.​

I put my dollar in and heard the change clink in the tray below as I pushed G9. But nothing happened! I pushed G9 again, and then pressed the coin return several times with no results. So, what did I do? I did what anyone else would have done—I put in another dollar!​

This time the malfunctioning mint-machine not only denied me my mints, but also kept my twenty cents in change! (By now, the noises it made sounded like it was talking and laughing at me!)

I was mad and was about ready to head for the lobby when I noticed the little sign that said the hotel management would not be held at fault or accept any liability for monies lost in the vending machines. Then, it directed me to report my losses to “Joe from Kokomo!” Phooey!​

As I slowly walked to my room in my garlic cloud, I pondered (with much higher intelligence than that menacing machine) that the “G” must not have stood for God after all, and that the “9” most certainly had nothing to do with the Holy Spirit! (I think.)

During that short walk, I also learned a goodly and godly life lesson. Sometimes we treat God like a vending machine.​

1. We locate what we want by looking through the window of His Word.

2. We find a Scripture verse number to back us up (G9)

3. We put our little prayer into the prayer slot and press G9.

4. We are unwilling to accept or explain why nothing happens—why our “G9” prayers aren’t answered.​

5. We get mad at management because we fail to read the little sign: “Management is not responsible for unanswered prayers, but the problem is not with God.”

God is love, and He patiently waits to answer our prayers. However, it is not because of any buttons we push. It’s because He’s promised that “… The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).