In networking, there are two ways to communicate with the Internet or as some say, send data packets across the Internet. 

One protocol is TCP, Transmission Control Protocol, which prioritizes perfect delivery and order. TCP establishes a dedicated connection before sending data, called a 3 way handshake. This handshake consists of the client (sender) sending a synchronization segment to the server (recipient) and the server responding back with two more segments and the client sends a final segment in acknowledgment. TCP is slower but it guarantees all data is delivered. 

UDP, User Datagram Protocol, prioritizes pure speed over accuracy. Think of it as a live broadcast. The difference is that it doesn’t do a “handshake”. Meaning the client (sender) doesn’t check to see if the recipient is ready to receive the data, it just sends it, at the cost of data being lost. 

Working in IT I think a lot about protocols and/or concepts in real world examples to better understand them.

So I thought about how we communicate to God. 

How blessed are we that we don’t communicate with God by just TCP or UDP, instead God has established his own protocol! We don’t have to choose speed over accuracy, because of Jesus we don’t have to go through a lengthy process to speak to the Father, not only does God know all our “data” already but he’ll never lose or forget it and we don’t ever have to worry that God isn’t ready to receive our data, or prayer packets, because he is always listening and never sleeps!

Ladislaus Boros said this, “God’s richness is such that He can totally give Himself to every many, can be there only for him—and likewise for a second and third, for millions and thousands of millions. That is the mystery of his infinity and inexhaustible richness.”

See you next week!