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The Christian faith is a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and we keep that relationship in repair, by prayer. In all real relationships there is two-way traffic. Friendship, or love, is given, and it is received and returned. When we pray we enter into a face-to-face encounter with God, but our big trouble is, we can't see his face or sense all his responses to our prayers. We have to learn what God is like - by getting to know him. That's why the Bible is so important: it tells the truth about God - and ourselves! For example, I know for sure that God won't ever listen to me when I harbour evil in my heart - and I also know him well enough to know that he will not allow me to have things which would destroy me. I remember when our son was very small and he used to 'help' me to shave on Saturday mornings by lathering up my face - and my eyes, and my mouth! It was great fun for him. Then the time came when he wanted to use the razor on me - that's when I said 'No' - or rather not yet, for the time did come when I bought him a razor and begged him to use it on his own teenage beard! By then the fun had departed. I wouldn't give someone I loved poison, nor would I help them to injure someone else, no matter how hard they begged. Neither will God- on the other hand - listen to Jesus:
Which if 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
A Prayer: Thank you Lord, that sometimes you say 'Yes' to my prayers; sometimes, because you love me, you say 'No', and sometimes you make me wait until I can handle what you want me to have.
Now read Romans 8: 18-19
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