Confidence in
prayer!
Late one evening a man on a long journey arrived unexpectedly
at the house of his friend. He was tired and hungry, and his friend
was glad to welcome him into his home; but he had no bread in the
house to offer to him!
He went out at midnight to call on a friend whom he knew could
help. "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of
mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before
him."
"Don't bother me." came the reply, "The door is already locked, and
my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you
anything." 1*.
His friend did not want to be bothered helping him!
Are you a "friend" who would be willing to go out of your way to
help others? I'm sure you have had times when your friends
disappointed you? Maybe right now you need a friend you could
trust! If so, I have good news for you.
It was Jesus who was telling this story to teach about prayer. He
went on, "I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the
bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's
persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs."
2*. You see, the man
kept on knocking and asking because he knew his friend
could help.
This is how Christians should pray! They are not to say a
prayer to God about something and then quickly turn away to ask the
help of someone else! This would show they do not have the faith to
believe that God can or will answer their prayer!
"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who
comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those
who earnestly seek Him." 3*. Jesus was teaching his disciples the great value
of faith and persistence in coming to God in prayer.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and
the door will be opened to you," He said, "for everyone who asks
receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will
be opened." 4*.
True Christians can be very sure of getting all they need by coming
in faith to God, their Heavenly Father, in prayer. 5*.
Here is one way to recognise those who are only "Christian" in
name, but are not really God's people; they also will say prayers
to God, but they will happily and frequently try many other "doors"
with their prayers!
God has provided only one "door" through which all His true
children's needs will be provided. Jesus said, "I am the door".
6*. "I am the way,"
He said, "no one comes to the Father except through Me."
7*.
The Christian is to confidently pray to God about the daily
requirements of life. It is by prayer to God alone, through Jesus
alone, 8*. that the
true Christian will seek daily forgiveness of sins, and earnestly
request victory over temptation and the evil one. 9*.
Read Jesus' teaching about confidence in
prayer in Luke chapter 11, verses 2-10.
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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Bible quotations from N.I.V.
1 Luke 11:5-7.
2 Luke 11:8.
3 Hebrews 11:6.
4 Luke 11:9-10.
5 Philippians 4:19.
6 John 10:7, 9.
7 John14:6.
8 Hebrews 7:25.
9 See Luke
11:2-4.
