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Asking God: a Sermon on Prayer

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

There is a well-known poem by unknown poet of how difficult the day is that the poet did not have time to pray and then questions why God did not help. God's answer is that the poet did not ask, seek or knock. The poet then realized that, the busier the day, the more he had to take the time to pray...

TIME TO PRAY

I got up early one morning
and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
that I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,
and heavier came each task.
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.
He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,
but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning,
and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
that I had to take time to pray.


Is it when the times become difficult that that is the only time we pray? Should we not ask of God throughout the day for all things to make smooth? 


What happens when we learn to ask of God in our lives? 

1. We form a partnership with God

At work, team ask questions and get comments within the team. As we adjust to each other's opinions, we then are able to move forward to improve. 

Hebrews 4:15 ...approach the throne so that we can receive mercy and find grace to help...
John 14:26 the Helper will teach you all things and remind you of everything...
James 4:2 you do not have because you do not ask God

However,  we want to go solo, we want to be the sole proprietor. Because if we ask God, he will open the right doors for us, which may not be what we want. So we do the things we want: because it is easier to ask for forgiveness that permission. 

When we ask God he may say "no", or "slow" for God wants the best for us as as explained in Eph 3:20 - all glory to God...at work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  We ask for only the things we see because we could not imagine what we cannot see, which may be better.

2. We form a relationship with God


Even thought we are evil (compared to God), we still would give our children bread instead of stone if they ask...so much more our Father in heaven.  Being a child, means we have the privilege to ask things of God. A child can therefore ask the parent the things that a stranger cannot.

As in the story of the prodigal son, even if we ask for the wrong things (which the father gave of half his wealth), if we return, God will still welcome us back with open arms. Because the prodigal son is still a son.

The closer our relationship with God, the more we dare to ask - we do so in prayer.










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