The Importance of Prayer: Approaching the Throne of GraceSample

Pray for God’s Kingdom and Your Daily Affairs

Read: Matthew 6:5–13; 7:7–11

SOAP: Matthew 7:11

If you then, although 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!

Into the text

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave instructions on how to pray. He explained, again, how prayer is about the heart. God is not concerned with our appearance or our words when we pray. He cares about our hearts. When we pray to Him, He already knows not only our hearts but exactly what we need.

Jesus gave us a clear picture of how we are to approach God, what we are to pray for, and the condition of our hearts when we pray. The prayer Jesus outlined expresses praise for God the Father, asks that above all His will be done, and asks for provision, forgiveness, and deliverance.

But that is not all. As Jesus continued His sermon, He expressed God’s great generosity and love. He reminded those listening that God’s will is for our good and His glory. We can believe that He will give us good things as they are used according to His good plan and purposes.

The heart of our Father is not evil. He would never give us things that harm us but instead delights in giving us good things. Like a good Father, He wants to give us what we ask for if it is according to His plan. When we pray, we can trust the heart of our good Father, even if the answer is not what we had hoped. We can pray for the advancement of His kingdom and our daily needs and hopes, knowing that the two are intertwined. God is a good Father, and we can trust Him!

Prayer

Father God, You are my gracious Provider who gives generously to Your children. Lord, help me be a good steward of the resources You have blessed me with. Empower me to pour out Your grace and mercy to those around me. Lord, remove any self-imposed efforts to earn Your approval and love. Remind me that Your love is a gift, unending and never failing. In Jesus’ name, amen.