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*All Scripture is from CSB (Christian Standard Bible) unless otherwise noted.

Knowing there is a God (and you’re not Him), and knowing that difficult days coming that WILL cause us to call out to Him - here’s WHY we should pray.

The Creator of all, the One who created you in your mother’s womb, actually listens when you call out to Him. The prerequisite of prayer is approaching God in humility. In other words, DON’T LIFT YOUR NEED TO GOD, UNLESS YOU BOW YOUR KNEE TO GOD. Look at what Peter - the apostle of Jesus - says.

Have you humbled yourself before God? Would God listen to you, because you listen to Him?

2 Great Promises

We can cast our cares on Him. “Cares” is sometimes translated as “anxieties” (ESV, NAS, NIV). These cares are significant concerns that might leave you discouraged, distressed, worried about what’s coming around the corner. What is that in your life right now?

We can cast all these concerns on God, because He cares about us! We should approach God humbly, yet confidently, because He cares about us! He’s not just God our Creator. He is also our Shepherd (1 Pet 5:4). This reminds many Jewish people of Psalm 23 - God shepherding His people - leading, protecting & providing. Peter heard these very words from the lips of Jesus: “I am the Good Shepherd” (Jn 10:11).

Peter encourages us. We can cast our cares on Him, because He cares for us!

Ask, seek, and knock are not 3 separate steps that break a code to get God to answer our prayers. Ask, seek, & knock are 3 ways to say the same thing: Keep on calling on God! And if you do, God will answer.

The reverse is also implied: If you DON’T ask you WON’T receive, if you DON’T seek you WON’T find, if you DON’T knock then the door WON’T be opened.

The half-brother of Jesus (often called James - better called Jacob) writes this: 

“You do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4:2b).

Keep ASKING, SEEKING, & KNOCKING - knowing that our God hears because our God cares.

What kind of wicked parent would give a child stone instead of bread or a snake instead of fish? NO DECENT PARENT would do that. Decent parents not only provide for their children’s needs, but they love to surprise their children with good gifts. So, while all parents are impacted by sin and have done what is evil, they still know how to give good gifts to their children. 

How much more so does our perfect God, shepherd…and Father compare to imperfect parents?

Followers of Jesus can trust that God hears, cares, & responds to those who ask Him.

Are you STILL asking or have you STOPPED asking? Have you forgotten WHO you are asking?

Start your prayer by THANKING God before ASKING God. Consider writing prayer needs down.

Pray with your spouse OR a same-sex friend this week. Join our Guys & Ladies group on Wed nights or a Sunday morning Growth Group.

PRAY for our Nation to turn from sin & turn to Jesus. Pray that God would save our leaders & send out workers - like us - to share the Gospel.