[But you, 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. But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do ... for your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him] (Matt. 6:6-8).
It is so heart-breaking and embarrassing to see a great number of people think that our Father does not accept our prayers directly, but that when we pray to Jesus the Intercessor, He goes to the Father and tells Him what we prayed about; then, after He hears of our circumstances from Jesus, He bestows His gifts or His will upon Him, and He (Jesus) brings them to us.
But this is fatally wrong and a great misunderstanding. If there are any who have cherished this thinking among my brothers and sisters reading this book, I hope that you will, from now on come to the throne of our Father boldly with confidence, meeting Him directly and talking to Him openly of your desires, requests, and perplexing situations without any hesitation. This is an absolute privilege of the sons and daughters of the heavenly Father.
For instance, in these earthly nations, in order for cabinet ministers, congressmen or generals to meet their king or president, they must first get permission from the chief of the office of the presidential security. And as they draw toward the president, they bend their heads and approach with an awe-stricken heart. They cannot behave freely before their king. However, the king's real children, his princes and princesses do not act like this at all. However dignified, majestic and fearful the king may be, they are not in the slightest degree afraid of him because he is their real father who has begotten them; to be with him is their joy. As they come before the king, do they need any permission from the chief of the office of the presidential security? Who would dare to even inspect them? It is not because they are better looking than others, or higher in rank than ministers and congressmen. On the contrary, they are more plain-looking than those considered handsome or beautiful in this world, and they hold no respected position. It is solely because they are the kings' real sons and daughters that they behave and speak so freely and openly without the slightest apprehensions or fear in front of all peoples or officials of the court.
In the same way, as we who [received the right to become children of God] (John 1:12) draw near to our real Father who has borne and brought us up, we do not need any mediator in between. Though we are not generals or ministers, angels or archangels, we are real sons and daughters of the King of the universe, heavenly princes and princesses! We need neither formalities, procedures, nor any identification cards for inspection. Moreover, it is rather silly to have an interpreter or a mediator. Let us come boldly to our real Father who is so tender and loving, who has borne and brought us up. Let us leap into His bosom and talk to Him with our little lips, sharing with Him all our wishes, joys and delightful experiences. Let us be as happy children in the bosom of our wonderful Father.
The intercession of Jesus and the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible is similar to when in a family, a little baby learns to say, "mom" or "daddy." Because he cannot speak clearly, the mother and brothers intercede for the baby to his daddy. Likewise, Jesus and the Holy Spirit speak to the Father for us when [we do not know what we should pray for as we ought] (Rom. 8:26), not that They are making intercession between a deadly criminal and the king, begging for relief on his behalf, but rather in a family viewpoint.
Our Father in heaven, the King of the entire universe, declares to all the inhabitants of the universe today, [And to the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones,] they are My sons [in whom is all My delight] (Ps. 16:3). He also speaks to us, [You are My son ... I have begotten you] (Ps. 2:7). [Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance](Ps. 2:8). [You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you] (Jer. 29:12). [I will answer you] (Jer. 33:3). [You shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am'] (Isa. 58:9). [Before they call I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear] (Isa. 65:24). [And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart] (Jer. 29:13). And He kindly says to us al ways, [call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me] (Ps. 50:15).
Jesus also says, [Ask, and it will be given to you ... For everyone who asks receives] (Matt. 7:7, 8). [Ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you] (John 16:26, 27). [Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights] (James 1:17). [You do not have because you do not ask] (James 4:2).
[Let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him] (James 1:5). [He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?] (Rom. 8:32). [If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him] (Matt. 7:11). [Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them] (Mark 11:24).
Pray to your Father who is in the secret place] (Matt. 6:6).
We may come into God's presence with the confidence that children have in their parents. No man is needed to act as a mediator. In the secret place of prayer, where no eye but God's can see, no ear but His can hear, we may pour out our most hidden desires and longings to the Father of infinite pity, and in the hush and silence of the soul, that voice which never fails to answer the cry of human need will speak to our hearts. [The Lord is very compassionate and merciful] (James 5:11). He waits with unwearied love to hear the confessions of the wayward and to accept their penitence. He watches for some return of gratitude from us, as a mother watches for the smile of recognition from her beloved child. He would have us understand how earnestly and tenderly His heart yearns for us. He invites us to take our trials to His sympathy, our sorrows to His love, our wounds to His healing, our weakness to His strength, our emptiness to His fullness. Never has one been disappointed who came to Him. [Your Father who sees in secret will reward you] (Matt. 6:6).
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Our Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and eager to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think, of poor helpless human beings who are subject to temptation, when God's heart of infinite love yearns toward them, they pray so little and have so little faith?
Satan encloses those who neglect to pray. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse where are treasured the boundless resources (riches, power, wisdom, etc.) of Omnipotence.
Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite. We may have no remarkable evidence at the time that the face of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love, but this is even so. We may not feel His visible touch, but His hand is upon us in love and pitying tenderness.
We should pray in the family circle, and above all we must not neglect secret prayer. Pray in your room, and as you go about your daily labor, let your heart be often uplifted to God. It was thus that Enoch walked with God.
My brothers and sisters! Spread out your wants, your joys, your sorrows, you cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden or weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. [The Lord is very compassionate and merciful] (James 5:11).
His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds. He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too difficult for Him to unravel.
No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest. [He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds] (Ps. 147:3). The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.
Jesus says, [You will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you] (John 16:26). [I chose you ... that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you] (John 15:16). Our God is a tender, merciful Father. Service to Him should not be looked upon as a sorrowful and distressing event. It should be a pleasure to worship the Lord and take part in His work. God would not have His children, for whom so great salvation has been provided, act as if He were a hard, exacting taskmaster. He is their best Friend. Let us with joy come before our Father, with [thanksgiving and the voice of melody] (Isa. 51:3).
Praise the Lord.!
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