Message #5 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
"The Deeper Life of Prayer"

by Kaye Johns

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us a model prayer which included asking for our daily bread [Matthew 6:11].

A little later in that sermon, Jesus provided great encouragement: "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; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 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 good gifts to those who ask him!" [Matthew 7:7-11]

Jesus assures us that when we ask, we will receive--because it is in the very nature of our heavenly Father to give more abundantly than any earthly Father would. Jesus wanted us to have faith and assurance that our prayers will be heard and answered.

If that is not the pattern of our prayer lives, either we are not asking or we are asking amiss [James 4:2-3], because God intends to answer. Some prayers must wait for answers--but not every prayer. On balance, we should regularly experience answered prayer. If we’re not, that itself should be a matter for prayer.

Pray with me now -- Father may we know You as One Who hears and answers our prayers, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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