Stop it!

Stop praying that way! Have you come before your God once again with the idea that you can manipulate Him?

We would all be shocked to think that anyone would come before God with the idea that we can somehow trick God into doing what we want, but then again-don't we?

It's like a story I once heard about a little boy who sat down to write God a letter. The boy wanted a bike for his birthday and he thought that if he could recruit God to his cause, the bicycle would be his. So he began the letter, "Dear God, I have been a very good boy this year and I would like a bike." Remembering that God knows all things, he decided to edit that letter a bit. He wrote again, "Dear God, I have been okay this year and I'd really like a bike for my birthday." After a moment, he convinced himself that with God you better be totally honest, so he began his letter for the third time, "Okay God, you know that I have not been such a good boy this year, but I am really sorry. I would like a bike for my birthday." He thought for a moment and realized, he wasn't really sorry so this wasn't going to get him that bike. What to do?

He finally came up with his plan. He went down the street to the church his family attended, went inside and found the small statue of the Virgin Mary he had seen hundreds of times. He stole the statue, returned home-wrapped the statue in paper and stuffed it in a box at the back of his closet. Then he began the final draft of his letter, "Dear God. I've got your Mama. If you ever want to see her again...send the bike!"

The story is cute, but it illustrates a grievous error that we often make in our prayer. We far too often believe that God has to be manipulated, goaded, or tricked into coming to our aid.

Jesus said (Matthew 7:11)

...if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

God knows what we need. He knows what is best. Prayer should reflect a trusting heart that is coming to the Father out of love and desire to know Him, to be with Him, to learn from Him. Prayer that is doing anything else ... well, just stop it.

Today, won't you come before your Father with a heart that trusts Him with the struggle, fear, pain, anxiety, or anger that you have in your life? He loves you. Won't He give good gifts to you?

Today, won't you come before your Father on behalf of those you love with a heart that trusts and believes that He longs for the best-even more than you do, for those you love? Won't He give good gifts?

Today, won't you come before your Father, and intercede for your church-His Church, and pray with a heart that truly believes and clings to the truth that He will do good things and will bring good gifts to His church?

You see, that kind of attitude in prayer changes everything.