Child-like Prayer
Basilea Schlink teaches that approaching God with childlike trust and love in prayer unlocks His power and blessings in believers' lives.
In this devotional sermon, Basilea Schlink explores the power and promise of childlike prayer. She emphasizes Jesus' call to approach God with the trust and simplicity of a child, assuring believers that God delights in hearing and answering such prayers. Schlink also addresses common obstacles to answered prayer and encourages persistent faith in God's fatherly love. Listeners are invited to deepen their relationship with God by embracing a childlike dependence and trust in Him.
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 Basilea Schlink called Childlike Prayer. Childlike Prayer 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.
I am sent you to be by thy love surrounded. Heavenly Father, I'm 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 has deemed me precious.
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Sermon Outline
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I. The Reality of God's Active Presence
- God lives and works today
- Prayer is a means to experience God's intervention
- Historical examples of answered prayer
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II. The Nature of Childlike Prayer
- Jesus calls us to become like children
- Childlike trust opens God's fatherly heart
- Approaching God with small and great needs alike
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III. Obstacles and Encouragements in Prayer
- Unrepentant sin can hinder prayer
- God may withhold answers to teach and bless later
- The importance of persistent asking
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IV. Living as God's Children
- God desires to be our Father
- We should come boldly with all needs
- Resting in God's loving care
Key Quotes
“Again and again, Jesus urges us to become like children. For to them, the kingdom of heaven belongs.” — Basilea Schlink
“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.” — Basilea Schlink
“God 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.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- Approach God daily with simple, trusting prayers like a child bringing all needs to their father.
- Examine your heart for any sin that may hinder your prayers and seek repentance.
- Persist in prayer even when answers seem delayed, trusting God's perfect timing and love.