Based on Luke 18:1-8

MEMORY TEXT:  "O God, Thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from Thee” (Psalm 69:5).

I remember when we brought our first baby home from the hospital.  Back in those days, the mother and baby stayed in the hospital for about a week.  It was a nice rest for the mother but a long wait for the father!  These days, mother and baby are usually home the next day.

Once the baby was home, the guessing game began.  I wonder what we should be doing for the baby now?  What does the baby need?  Why is she crying?  Does she hurt anywhere?  What does this rash mean?  Did the baby get enough to eat?  Did the baby get too much to eat?  Should we rush in every time the baby cries?  Should the baby eat every three hours or on demand?  Is it OK if the baby sucks her thumb?  How old should the baby be when she starts eating cereal?  So many questions!

We tried to do everything right and provide the baby with everything she needed, yet we didn’t want to spoil her.  After a while, we began to recognize what the baby needed by a certain look or the sound of her cry.  When we guessed right, everything generally went along smoothly (and quietly).  But when we guessed wrong, everyone in the apartment building knew it!

If God, our heavenly Father, knows what we need, why should we have to ask?  Doesn’t that show a lack of faith on our part?  To the contrary.  Actually, not praying indicates an abysmal lack of interest.  Worse, it borders on presumption.

Prayer is communication with God.  Whether we are thankful for something or concerned about something, not sharing our feelings and needs with God indicates that we don’t value His friendship.  We can't have a relationship with someone with whom we do not communicate.

Adopting a fatalistic approach and thinking to ourselves that whatever will be, will be, takes us out of the equation altogether, as though we don’t have any influence over the outcome.

James 1:6 says: "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that waivers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."  To ask in faith means that we have faith that our prayer will be answered on God’s terms and in His time.  And, after all, that is the answer we want.