Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
People learn to do all kinds of wonderful things. Some learn to play baseball, some soccer, some to play the piano or the violin, some to be surgeons, etc. But there is one thing everybody must learn to do--talk with God. And yet most people are afraid to try to pray. They think they don't know what to say. And they wonder if God will even listen to them, and if He will answer in any way at all. Well, I'd like to encourage you to learn to talk with God.
(1) Jesus tells us how to begin in Matthew 6:6: "When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
(2) Notice what he says about God being your Father in heaven. If you have had a kind, loving earthly father it may help you to see God that way, but even if your earthly father has not been a good example to you, you can easily learn to believe that your heavenly Father loves you, listens to you, and answers you. Make a choice to believe in God whom you cannot see with your eyes, but you have plenty of evidence that proves His love for you.
So, (3) begin by saying Thank You to Him for all that you do have--before you begin asking Him for things that you don't have.
(4) There's something else very important before you begin asking things for yourself--be sure to ask for something for somebody else first! Think of someone somewhere who needs help of some kind, and pray for that person beforeyou begin praying for yourself.
(5) Be honest with God and tell Him all that is in your heart, including your mistakes, yes, what you know is your sin. And remember, when you know you have sinned, don't stay away from God--that's the very best time to come to Him. He already knows you have sinned and still He loves you. He doesn't love the sin, but He loves you and wants to separate the sin from you. That's what forgiveness really is--it takes the sin away from your heart.
Then the last point: (6) Give your heavenly Father a chance to answer you, to respond to your questions. He will speak to you in the Bible. Yes, I am serious; Jesus promised that if you go to your room, close the door, and pray to your heavenly Father in secret, "your Father will reward you." You can lean to talk to Him and you can learn to listen to Him.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: 1994 Phone Message.
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