Prayer: Be A Child of God

During the American Civil War, a soldier for the Southern States wrote these words:

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for
But everything I had hoped for . . .
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.

This poem speaks of the remarkable power and mystery of prayer. In the next few posting, I will discuss the requirements that we must meet if we want our prayers to be answered consistently. God does answer prayer! However, the Bible makes it clear that God requires certain things from us if we want to experience a powerful prayer life.

The first requirement is that we be God's Child. In the Model Prayer, Jesus told His disciples, "When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, . . ." (Luke 11:2) Jesus goes on to give an example of prayer. Notice that Jesus began the Model Prayer with, "Our Father." God answers the prayers of those who are His children.

Now in one sense God is the Father of all people, because He is the Creator of everyone. However, the Bible speaks of those who are children of God in a special way. The Apostle John wrote, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name." (John 1:12)

Only those who have received and believed in Jesus are God's children according to the Bible. If you want God to hear and answer your prayers, you must be born again. If you want to know more about this, go to this website: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/StepsToPeace_Step1.asp.