Prayers Of Love

Prayers of Love

I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Psalm 116:1

IMAGINE A PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP in which the child makes frequent requests but the parent rarely answers them. The child is supplied with the most basic needs of shelter, clothing, nourishment, and instruction, but anything beyond necessity is conspicuously withheld. It’s perhaps a functional relationship, but it hardly seems a loving one. There’s not much affection in calculated, minimal provision.

Now imagine a parent-child relationship in which the child receives answers to requests and even nice surprises, too—not enough to spoil the child with gifts beyond his or her level of maturity, but enough to communicate affection. Basic needs are covered, to be sure, but so are many of the heart’s desires. This is a relationship of warm and nourishing love.

Many Christians see their relationship with God resembling the first paragraph more than the second. Perhaps they come from a background of austerity, firm warnings against greed and pride, or overcompensation for abuses like a prosperity-only gospel or selfish faith. But does that kind of relationship really capture the love of the Father? Does it fit Jesus’ statement about the Father’s good gifts (Matthew 7:11)? No. Somewhere along the way, traditional Christian teaching has distorted the biblical view of God.

The context for prayer is a loving relationship with God. The more attentive he is to our pleas, the more we love him; and the more we love him, the more attentive he is to our pleas. Unfortunately, the converse is true. The less we perceive his love, the less attentive he seems to our pleas because we don’t actually believe he will answer them. And the less attentive he seems, the harder it is to love him. Somehow, we have to place extravagant, affectionate love back at the center of the relationship.

You will always underestimate God’s love for you, but make it a point to underestimate it less and less each day. Assume that he adores you and wants to give you his best. Your prayers and faith will grow into that assumption—and ever closer to truth.

We should speak to God from our own hearts and talk to him as a child talks to his father.