Prayer Problems: Practice - 4 Relying on God in Prayer

Focus passage: Luke 11:11-13

A child should never have to ask for a roof over their head, for food or clothing or even the chance to go to school. It is what they should know that their parents will give them gladly based on their parent’s character and love for them. The second parable in this text is about God’s character. His children don’t have to beg Him for help. They know that God wants to give His children more than they could ever ask for. They know His love for them and eagerly come to Him for help.  

• Prayer is the act of learning God’s Character. The text points to the fallacy that God has to be begged. Our God is not a reluctant giver. Human fathers like me want their children to succeed. Our heavenly Father wants it even more.   Each need is a chance for us to learn the depth of God’s love. We lay our needs before Him and grow in our understanding of who He is and how much He loves us.

• Prayer is the act of learning dependence. God wants prayer to become our first response and not our last resort. He wants us to experience His help so often and so fully that we come to rely on Him. We learn His character and see He that He enjoys helping us each time we ask. We come to God for help because we know that He will listen. No one else will help us as much as He does.

• Prayer is the act of wanting miracles. Sometimes we sell God short. We ask for simple healing or a new job. Yes, those are things that bring joy, but God wants to do so much more. He wants to provide spiritual gifts that only He can give. He wants to do miracles that will change your life and change the community that you live in. God wants you to ask for God sized gifts, not just the gifts that any friend could give.

God has given His heart to us. He is not just the giver of things, but the giver of love.  He will devote himself to us. The problem is that we often ask for just enough to get out of trouble or to have a simple pleasure. God wants to be part our father and have a close giving relationship with His children. He never wants us to feel bad when we ask for things from Him and never wants us to feel like anything is too much to ask. He loves us and that means that He will always give us the best. Those who practice prayer can learn the character of God and enjoy blessings that others will never experience.