In
Luke 11, Jesus responds to the disciples request to "teach us how to
pray." To go the Jesus way, it is imperative that you learn His powerful
prayer lessons and live them out each day.
The
essence of Jesus' prayer perspective is rooted in His comparison of our
Heavenly Father to a good earthly father. The Lord teaches in Luke 11: 11, "Which
of you fathers, if your son asked for a fish would give him a
snake instead? If then, you who are evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to
those who ask Him?"
When
God hears our prayers, He responds like a good Dad. But our Heavenly Father has
the advantage of being all knowing and totally wise. Additionally, He loves His
child and wants the ultimate best for them, not temporary entertainment.
Therefore, no matter how good our cause, we cannot change God's mind or prompt
Him to act outside of His plan. Let me give you a simple example.
Imagine
that my daughter Alex, who is 15, comes to me and requests $300 to buy a 9mm
pistol because she wants to take it to school as a protective measure.
Regardless of her pleas for purchasing the pistol, I will say no to this
request because it is inappropriate and could be harmful to her. Let's extend
the analogy another step. Imagine Alex said, "Dad, I need $300 to buy some
college textbooks. Even though I am only in 10th grade, I want to start
preparing for my college career by studying molecular chemistry and quantum
physics." I would lovingly express appreciation for Alex's thirst for
knowledge, but explain to her that she is a 10th grader and it is important for
her to enjoy her high school days. Therefore, I will not grant her request to
provide money to purchase college textbooks. Lastly, imagine that Alex comes to
me and says, "Dad, we're going on a youth
retreat
and I need $300 for my fees and to bring an un-churched friend. Could you help
me out?" With a sense of joy and delight, I would provide the cash because
Alex has made a worthy request that needs fulfilling.
My
friend, you may be assured that prayer is a powerful tool. We see unbelievers
saved, the sick healed, and evil defeated. The Lord changes things everyday
through our prayers. Furthermore, we have an opportunity to participate through
His work as we talk with Him and obediently choose to serve His purposes.
Let me
urge you to become a person of consistent prayer who trusts your Heavenly
Father to wisely fill your requests in a way that helps you, expands His
kingdom and glorifies His holy name.
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