Your Father knows what you need

Matthew 6 : 7 - 15

They kingdom come, Thy will be done.....

I just heard a sermon on this aspect of prayer last Sunday evening. The speaker reminded us that although we are encouraged to go to God with our personal needs, and he welcomes our petitions, there is more. The people who prayed "great prayers" (title of the sermon series) in the Bible all sought God's agenda. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done". Moses pleaded with God when He wanted to destroy the stubborn people after the golden calf incident (Exod 32). Nehemiah prayed seeking God's agenda for rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

There is something significant to ponder about this form of prayer. Such prayer comes forth from people who knew God's heart. They communed with God often and sought His purposes, even above their own desires. I think this thought might stop some of us in our tracks. We prefer to recall Jesus saying "Ask and it will be given". This can "justify" our praying very self centered prayers.

At the end of the day, our Lord himself prayed the most difficult prayer at Gethsemane: "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass..... yet, Thy will be done", while sweating drops of blood. Yet it was prayed, even while anticipating the heartbreak of painful separation from Abba.

Abba knows what we need. Of course, like any loving parent, He wants us to ask him ourselves, to communicate with him (we'd rather our children ask and discuss their needs, rather than just leave it to us). Yet He also calls his people to deepen their communion (heart union) with Him, that they begin to understand and love His heart's desires and begin to ask and pray boldly, "Your will be done".