THE QUESTION: Does God want me to talk to Him in prayer?

WE BELIEVE: God hears the prayers of His people that are offered in faith.

A STORY: A Christian farmer was spending the day in a large city. At noon he had to buy his lunch. Before he began to eat, he quietly bowed his head and gave thanks for the good that God had given him. Seeing his devotion, some young fellows, who didn't believe in God or prayer, stared to laugh at him. One of these laughers challenged him, in a mocking way, "Does everybody pray like that where you come from?" Looking the rude young man straight in the eye, the old man said, "No, son, the pigs don't."

ANSWER THIS: In our first lesson we talked of how God is our Father. List a few of the many things that a father likes to hear from his children:



GOD SPEAKS: In the last part of our lesson we talked of how God is far greater than we are. Nevertheless, God, still wants to hear the requests of His adopted children. Anytime we talk to God, we are praying. Those prayers can be given by God's people as they come to Him asking Him for something or giving thanks for what He has already done. Either way, God listens to them. True, He is all knowing and is fully aware of all our needs before we talk to Him. Nevertheless, God asks us to come with our prayers because it is good for us to show that we know He is the one who supplies all that we need. When Jesus was on earth, His disciples asked Him how they should pray. Jesus gave His students a prayer that covers all needs. This is what Jesus said:

• "your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." (KJV - Matthew 6: 8b-13)

Although the Bible records other prayers of Jesus and His disciples, this prayer is elegant in its simple and total. It has been used as an example for the prayers of Christians everywhere. Look at it again and see how:

• It calls God "Father" because we come to Him as children, knowing He hears.
• It asks that God's name be "hallowed" or respected as a Lord's should be.
• It prays that our sinful world may learn to comply with God's perfect will, even as the angels follow it in heaven.
• It asks that each of us be given bread daily. Here Jesus is talking about everything we need to sustain us in our daily walk of faith.
• It asks that we learn to forgive other people as gladly as God has forgiven us.
• It requests that God deliver us from all evil that is trying to destroy us.
• It acknowledges that all power and glory belong to our Father.

THIS PART OF OUR LESSON ASKS:
List the things you would like to talk to God about.



We come to Him in faith and with Jesus as our guide, and He will hear. It is a good idea to memorize The Lord's Prayer, which our Father taught.

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