Refer to the Owner’s Manual for Further Information

Did you know that you are surrounded by television signals? It doesn’t matter where you are, there are television signals coursing through the air. You could say, “Well, I don’t believe they’re there because I can’t see them!”

But, I could prove to you they are there by taking a television set, plugging it in, and tuning it in. Then you would hear and see that the waves are there whether you perceive them or not. The broadcast was there before the set was turned on and tuned it; it didn’t start when you turned on the TV, it originated whenever that station opened its doors and began broadcasting. However, you only began receiving that broadcast when you began to utilize a device designed to receive that signal.

Now, if you’re watching TV and all of the sudden, the channel you’re watching goes dark, what do you think? Do you automatically think that the station stopped broadcasting? No, probably the first thing you’ll do is turn to another station. If all the stations are black, you know that there’s something wrong with your receiver, but the signal is still being broadcast.

We can apply this analogy to God. God has the transmitter. He built the transmitter. He is broadcasting. He is the giver of all earthly and spiritual blessings. Everything comes from Him.

He has already transmitted those blessings and if you aren’t seeing them manifest in your life, it’s not time for you to pray and ask God to fix His transmitter. It’s time for you to fix your receiver.

Most of us, when we’re not feeling the joy of the Lord, we go to Him and we say, “Oh God, where’s my joy? What’s wrong?” We may lament, as David did,

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psa 51:10-12 (KJV)

There’s a song that many of us have sung in church that is based on this passage of scripture written by King David; and it is a beautiful song. But, it is based on the Old Testament covenant.

When you or I pray this prayer, it makes what Jesus came to do for us on the cross of none effect (as it says in I Cor. 1:17). David did not have a New Testament covenant that God would stick with him through thick and thin. There were times when God took His hand of protection off the Old Testament man. The Old Covenant was based on performance (sacrifices, etc). Old Testament believers were not born again as we are today.

What we have is infinitely better. Jesus said:

…lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matt 28:20b (KJV)

This is a covenant promise of the New Testament and if you’ve been born again but you don’t feel the presence of God, there are a couple of possibilities.

1. you may not truly understand the benefits of the covenant that you have with Jesus
2. or, you may be in unbelief

Instead of praying, “Where are you, God?” try praying,

“Father, I don’t feel Your presence. It seems like You’ve left me. There’s no indication of Your presence in my life…But…I know that You are here with me. I know that Your Word promises that You will never leave me or forsake me, so I know that You are here. Whatever is causing me to feel this way, I know it’s not You that’s forsaken me.

So, Father, I’m not going to pray the prayer of David and say, “Don’t leave me! Don’t cast me away! Don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me! Restore unto me the joy of my salvation.” Father, I know it’s already here. And if I’m not feeling it, it’s not Your transmitter, it’s my receiver.

Help me to fix my receiver and release the blessings that reside in me…in my spirit.”

This is a prayer of faith.

Now, what do you do if you aren’t receiving the signal from God; if you aren’t receiving His blessings? What do you do if your receiver is broken?

You go to the owner’s manual and figure out how to fix it. Can you guess what the owner’s manual is?

When we pray and read and study God’s Word, we are studying the owner’s manual.

If you’re struggling to receive the signal from God, spend some time studying the owner’s manual and learn how to repair your receiver. God is so faithful.

God Bless You on Your Journey!