Everyday Prayer with the Reformers by Donald K. McKim

Author:Donald K. McKim [Donald K. McKim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: P&R Publishing
Published: 2020-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

GOD APPOINTS THE MEANS TO ANSWER US

Matthew 7:7–11

SOMETIMES we may wonder, What’s the use of praying? God knows all things. God’s will is being done. Why do we need to pray if God is at work, knowing what we want, and determining what to do in the world and in our lives? Why pray?

On prayer, Jesus instructed, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Matt. 7:7). Jesus tells us to pray, asking God for what we need and believing God hears and answers our prayers. Ask and knock.

Archbishop James Ussher said in relation to this verse that “for as God hath fore-appointed all necessaries to be given us; so hath he also appointed the means whereby they should be brought to pass, whereof Prayer is a chief.”

God appoints the means by which our prayers are answered. As we ask and knock, we are participating in what God is doing to answer our prayers. When we pray, we do not know in what ways God will answer our prayers. So we “ask and knock.” Our prayers are a major means God uses to bring forth the answers to our prayers. As we pray, we are doing what God desires. Through our prayers—and our actions—our prayers can be answered.

This makes prayer exciting for us! We ask and knock, not knowing how God will answer, but believing God will answer our prayers!

RFFLFCTION QUFSTION: Think of when you have continued to “ask” and “knock” with your prayers. When have you seen how God used your prayers as a means of answering your prayers?

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