Message #7 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
"Asking - God’s Way"

by Kaye Johns

When Jesus taught on prayer as part of His Sermon on the Mount, He taught us to pray to "Our Father." This was a incredible revelation of the relationship God wants to have with each one of us; in Christ we are His children, no longer just His people.

Later in the sermon, Jesus taught that "everyone who asks receives..." [Matthew 7:8], underscoring several times the fundamental truth that our heavenly Father will hear and answer our prayers.

Jesus didn’t stop there. He went on to ask, "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 7:9-11]

Jesus wanted His followers to understand that God not only hears and answers, but He hears from the perspective of a perfectly loving Father. Who is it then, who receives answers to prayer that are even beyond what was asked? One who loves Him with childlike surrender, who is totally dependent, fully obedient. One who not only calls Him Father, but loves Him as Father, relates to Him as Father--not just when he wants an answer to prayer, but every day.

Pray with me now -- Lord, help us to know You as our perfect Father, not so You will hear and answer our prayers, but because we love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

ã 1999 PrayerPower Ministries, P.O. Box 1368, Dallas, TX 75380-1368, 1-800-949-PRAY.
May be copied for personal or church use; please include PrayerPower name, address and phone on copies.