What Prayer Is About
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you 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!"1
When a parent asks their child, "What did you learn in school today?" it is very unlikely that they will mention anything that the parent does not know. But even so, they like to hear it. It is an honor for them to be given so much attention, and being fully present and interested in the child's life reinforces the bond you share.
The same is true between us and Christ. In Matthew 6:8, He said, "For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Then you might ask: Why does God want me to tell Him about my needs if He already knows what they are? The answer is that it is not about the need, but about the relationship that prayer helps to create.
The Lord is the "friend more faithful than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24, John 15:15), and He wants us to reap the blessings of seeing Him as the most important thing in our lives. This is what the apostle Paul was trying to tell the people of Athens. God “is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:27-28). It's easy for us to lose sight of this fact, but prayer keeps us close to God and helps us remember how close He is to us.
Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that You want to have a relationship with me. Thank you because you like to listen to me and you like me to tell you about my day to day, my plans and everything that happens in my life. Thank you because what I tell you is important to you, you listen to me carefully, and you are always available. What a great privilege to be able to have a Father who takes care of me and everything that has to do with me. I thank you, in Jesus' name, Amen.
1. Lucas 11:9-13 (NIV).
Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.