Child-Like Prayer
To experience God's power in our lives, we must learn to pray with childlike faith and trust, just like a child asking their earthly father.
In this sermon, Basilia Schlenk discusses the power of childlike prayer and the promise that God has given to those who approach Him with trust and simplicity. She emphasizes the importance of asking God for our needs and not being afraid to come to Him with even the smallest requests. Schlenk reminds listeners that God desires to be a loving Father to us and wants us to bring all of our needs to Him. She also acknowledges that sometimes God may withhold an answer or a gift in order to teach us something or to bless us even more abundantly in the future.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today. Throughout the ages, men have experienced this reality. Yes, when they turned to Him in prayer, God did hear and intervene.
Their troubles were really changed. But perhaps you're asking yourself, how should I pray so that I can experience His power in my life? The answer is in today's meditation by Basilia Schlenk called, Childlike Prayer. The prayer of those whom God foresees Will bring the might of God to bear First of an island contest To pray with faith gives strength to harm And changes pain and duties calm To flowers in love's garden God has given a special promise to childlike trusting prayer.
Again and again, Jesus urges us to become like children. For to them, the kingdom of heaven belongs. Yes, to them, God's fatherly heart is open.
Children win the father's heart by their childlike trust As they come to him with their smallest needs, Asking for even the littlest things. Jesus says, if an earthly father can't give a stone to his child When he asks for bread, How much more will the father in heaven do good to us, his children, When we come to him like children? In order to have God hear our prayers, We have to have a childlike relationship of love and trust to Him As our heavenly father. If such a prayer is according to His will, It will not be disappointed.
It may be, of course, that He will hold back the answer to a prayer If there is a specific obstacle hindering the prayer, Such as uncleansed and unrepentant sin. But it can also be that He is withholding a gift from us In order to teach us something, So that later He can give to us even more abundantly. Hasn't James put his finger on our main problem When he writes in James 4 verse 2, You do not have because you do not ask.
We are lacking childlike prayer. Yes, we remain poor with many needs Simply because we are too unchildlike to ask. We take precautions so that we don't even come into a situation Where we might have to ask the father for help.
God, however, wants to be a father to us. He wants us to come to Him with every one of our needs. He waits for children who will ask of Him time and time again.
Because as a loving father, it is His joy to do us good And to give us gifts. Heavenly father, I am thy child Is there better to be found As such loving union Oh, how blessed to be with thee Day and night send you to me By thy love surrounded Heavenly father, I am thy child Tell me, is there anything In the world more blessed How can trouble, hurt, or harm While I rest within God's arm God esteems me precious 48th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85028-4099 That's God Lives and Works Today 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85028-4099 God bless you!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Power of Childlike Prayer
- A. God hears and intervenes in prayer
- B. Childlike trust is necessary for God to hear our prayers
- II. Becoming Like Children
- A. Jesus urges us to become like children
- B. Children win the father's heart with childlike trust
- III. The Importance of Asking
- A. We must ask God for our needs
- B. James 4:2 - we do not have because we do not ask
- IV. God's Desire to Be a Father
- A. God wants to be a father to us
- B. He waits for children who will ask of Him
Key Quotes
“To them, the kingdom of heaven belongs.” — Basilea Schlink
“If an earthly father can't give a stone to his child when he asks for bread, how much more will the father in heaven do good to us, his children, when we come to him like children?” — Basilea Schlink
“Heavenly father, I am thy child, is there better to be found as such loving union?” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- We must learn to pray with childlike faith and trust, just like a child asking their earthly father.
- We must ask God for our needs, and not be afraid to come to Him with our smallest requests.
- God wants to be a father to us and give us gifts, and He waits for children who will ask of Him time and time again.