I was sitting in church Sunday a week ago and was moved to think of the following: God doesn’t play games. In fact, my actual thoughts were hearing God say, “I’m tired of playing games with you.” The thought was a chilling one if you get my meaning.I didn’t think about this again until a colleague asked me if I thought God heard some prayers while he gave a deaf ear to others. My answer was, “Absolutely!” I believe God answers prayers (when and how he wants to, of course) when they are sincerely offered up to Him out of the belief that He truly can answer them.We waste our time making entreaties to God from some habitual and traditional outward show of false faith. That’s the kind of stuff we do to each other. You know what I’m talking about. We play each other. We constantly show each other the face or faces, if you have two, of polite political correctness in an attempt to get over or get from someone else what you want. Our problem with God is that He ain’t having any part of our game. It’s sort of what my mom used to say to me on occasion: ‘…who do you think you talkin’ to, one of you little friends out on the streets?…’ After swallowing slowly and hoping I could get out of this conversation with my little young behind intact, I heard Mama actually telling me (without saying so) that she was tired of my lame excuses, bad behavior, and the potential lie she could hear coming before I even opened my mouth.You see, God, in my sanctified imagination, was the originator of the question, “You talking to me?”Apparently, when you seriously consider the possibilities of God’s greatness and power, you also have his attention. If you don’t believe the person you’re talking to has any money, you won’t ask to borrow any from him or her. If you don’t believe God can answer the prayer, you won’t ask. If you don’t believe He can help, maybe you shouldn’t ask. No prayer is probably better than false prayer. No prayer might be better than it can’t hurt prayer. In my humble opinion, God is going to act at some point. I wouldn’t want to be on the subject of His statement, “I’m tired of playing games with you.”That can only mean one of two things: 1) either you’re in a faith struggle of monumental proportions, and God recognizes you really do believe in His magnificence, or 2) you can’t get your act together. In this situation, you probably get a somewhat sympathetic ear. Or, you’re playing with faith, like there are free tickets to a concert you’re not sure you want to attend. You’ll take them just in case something better doesn’t come along. In this situation, you better recognize who you are foolin’ with and leave well enough alone. Faith either is or isn’t, don’t you know. And don’t you know God knows?“Do you believe that I am able to do this?”“Yes Lord” they replied.“Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you….” Matthew 9:28-29. What will be done to or for you in God’s name? I’m convinced anything is possible in God’s name. The trick is to make sure when He asks.“You talkin to me?” The answer is clear and emphatic. It wouldn’t hurt to ensure that you truly want Him to pick up the telephone before you dial His number. If not, may God bless and keep you always.This column is from James Washington’s Spiritually Speaking: Reflections for and from a New Christian. You can purchase this enlightening book on Amazon and start your journey toward spiritual enlightenment.The post The Wisdom Bank appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.