Jesus taught about prayer in the Sermon on
the Mount. He said, “Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for
bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a
serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who
ask Him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)
Jesus gives the comparison between the
heavenly Father and earthly fathers. Even though they are mere men, earthly
fathers know how to give good gifts to their children. Even more so, God who is
not prone to faulty judgments or miscalculations, knows even greater how to
give good things to His children who ask.
Therefore, when we are faced with various
needs, we should never be afraid to approach God in prayer and petition Him the
earnest desires of our hearts. There are a variety of things for which we could
ask. Let us consider a few.
One is the peace of God. Paul tells us, “Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
The peace of God surpasses all understanding
because there is nothing that compares to it. When we are faced with situations
of doubt and fear, it gives us great comfort to know that the peace of God is
just a prayer away. When we approach God with thanksgiving, it reminds us of
all the difficult times that God has already brought us through. It is then
that we can face whatever is ahead. We face it with confidence, assurance, and
His great peace in our hearts.
Another blessing we can request to God is
His strength. Paul stated, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me.” (Philippians 4:13). The apostle Paul knew both ends of the spectrum. He
knew how to abound, and he knew how to suffer need. Despite his various
circumstances, he always found his strength in God.
We too will find ourselves in a variety of
situations. Sometime everything will seem to be falling into place. At other
times, everything will seem to be falling apart. We all have days when the car
won’t start, someone cuts us off in traffic, or money goes missing off the
dresser. These circumstances can be both
disheartening and frustrating. What keeps us on track is the strength we
receive from God when we come before Him in prayer.
The knowledge that we are not in this life
alone is one of the great blessings of being a Christian. We can face an
uncertain future because we serve a God who is faithful, sure, and steadfast in
His love toward us. Therefore, as the issues of life arise, let us approach God
in prayer and ask great things of Him.
God bless each of you,
Eric
Hicks
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