The illustration of prayer that our Lord used here is one of a good child who is asking for something good. We talk about prayer as if God hears us regardless of what our relationship is to Him (see Matthew 5:45). Never say that it is not God’s will to give you what you ask. Don’t faint and give up, but find out the reason you have not received; increase the intensity of your search and examine the evidence. Is your relationship right with your spouse, your children, and your fellow students? Are you a “good child” in those relationships? Do you have to say to the Lord, “I have been irritable and cross, but I still want spiritual blessings”? You cannot receive and will have to do without them until you have the attitude of a “good child.”We mistake defiance for devotion, arguing with God instead of surrendering. We refuse to look at the evidence that clearly indicates where we are wrong. Have I been asking God to give me money for something I want, while refusing to pay someone what I owe him? Have I been asking God for liberty while I am withholding it from someone who belongs to me? Have I refused to forgive someone, and have I been unkind to that person? Have I been living as God’s child among my relatives and friends? (see Matthew 7:12).

I am a child of God only by being born again, and as His child I am good only as I “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7). For most of us, prayer simply becomes some trivial religious expression, a matter of mystical and emotional fellowship with God. We are all good at producing spiritual fog that blinds our sight. But if we will search out and examine the evidence, we will see very clearly what is wrong— a friendship, an unpaid debt, or an improper attitude. There is no use praying unless we are living as children of God. Then Jesus says, regarding His children, “Everyone who asks receives…” (Matthew 7:8).

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August 24, 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, is this really the way it works? You only hear our prayers when we “are good”? Are we to go through self-examination as a step to finding out why our prayers have not been answered? Are we to examine ourselves whenever You do not respond to our prayers? Or is self-examination a good thing that comes out of surrender and connection? What about the scriptures that tell us that there is nothing good in us; that the very best we can do is not good enough? This sounds a little too much like the “Santa Claus” myth: if we are good, You will respond to our prayers, and if we are not “good” You will not?

And God says…”When you seek your own ways and means, I cannot help you. When you take charge of your life, I am compelled to let you. However, when you surrender your life to Me, the Holy Spirit can operate in your life and you can live a life of abundance, even when I choose not to provide you with everything you ask. Your “goodness” has nothing to do with how I see you and your requests. Your “goodness “is provided by Jesus. Grace allows Me to see Jesus when I look at you.”

Matthew 6:33The Message (MSG) 30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”