Prayer and the Goodness of God

Luke 11:1-13

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ² And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
³ Give us each day our daily bread,
⁴ and forgive us our sins,
    for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”

⁵ And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. ⁹ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ¹² or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus spent a very short time describing the "technique" of prayer in response to his disciple's request for a lesson on prayer.  He then focused on the attribute of God's goodness.  This attribute is in God's nature and is unchangeable.  God has never been more good to His people, nor will He ever be less bestowing of His benevolence toward His own children. Read Luke 11:5-8 again.  Jesus gave a very human example of someone requesting food from a friend during a very inconvenient time.  The friend, though he refuses at first, responds to persistent pleading and gives to the need so that he can be relieved of his interruption.  

Is your image of God like the man at midnight who doesn't want to be bothered?  Jesus continued in verses 10-13 to give an accurate picture of the goodness of God.  Jesus shows that Father is a better friend.  He is so much a better friend that "everyone who asks receives."  This is to say that our prayers are not answered based on our own merit.  Our faith and our good deeds have no effect on God's goodness.  A.W. Tozer wrote in The Knowledge of the Holy that prayer "lays God under no obligation nor puts Him in debt to any.  He hears prayer because He is good, and for no other reason."

There is a need, however, for a repentant heart if we are to know that God is listening to our prayers.  God clearly desires His people to turn from their sinful ways and then He promises to hear their prayers (II Chronicles 7:14-15, I Peter 2:12, Proverbs 15:29).  Though God does not listen to those who do wickedness, His goodness by nature remains unchanged.

When you ask for a blessing from God, do you lack faith in His benevolence toward you?  Having faith when you pray is to have confidence in the goodness of God, that He hears you, cares about your need and desires to give you good gifts.  He is "able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us..." (Ephesians 3:20).  The power at work in us is the Holy Spirit.  Of all the good gifts that God gives, His Spirit is at the very top of the "goodest" (Luke 11:13).  We can even ask for the greatest gift from Father and He WILL GIVE it!