"You parents - if your children ask for a loaf of bread do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to you?"
- Matthew 7:9-11.
Many times we pray, asking God for something based on the thought that we are worth it - we are pastors, missionaries, less sinful than others, doing ministry, using our gifts, young, have a lot to offer, or many other reasons. That sounds like bargaining with God for what we want and requesting based on our merit.
Recently, I was told by doctors that I have kidney failure. That shocking news caused me to pray and to ask for prayer from others like I had never done before. Should I bargain with God for healing based on my being a pastor or something else? No. This verse encourages me to believe that God will work healing in my body because of His character - He is a loving Father. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs His followers to ask our loving Father and He will answer, based on His character, not on our goodness.
While you are praying today for great needs in your life and the lives of others, especially those in Japan, please remember me to God also. His listening is based on His character - He loves you.
Will you please encourage me and the readers of our blog by writing in the "comment" section of our blog how our loving Father has listened to you?
Gratefully yours, Bob
