Why are some of our prayers answered and some seem to get no further than the ceiling?  Is there some formula that God recognizes and other forms God does not?  

I think it is interesting that the disciples of Jesus did not ask him to show them how to heal, or multiply bread, or raise the dead, or any other activities they had seen as unique to Jesus only. 

There was something that was basic to his ability to do all those things.  They saw Jesus’ time alone with God to be the source of his strength and his power.  They saw him go away by himself exhausted, discouraged, and troubled and he returned refreshed, renewed, and more determined than ever to complete the mission God had given him.

The disciples had observed this.  They wanted to know about prayer.  What happened when he was alone with God?  They believed there must be something renewing, encouraging, and enabling that came from prayer.

Of all the things they could have asked Jesus to teach them, they asked him to teach them to pray.

They understood a concept often forgotten by our generation of believers.  We do get worn down and weary with life’s challenges.  It doesn’t mean our faith is weak.  It means we are humans trying to deal with life.  

We understand we need more strength than we have.  Where do we get it?  Can we buy a book that tells us how to help ourselves?  Get more exercise.  Get more sleep.  Take more vitamins. 

The simple fact is we know the challenges are greater than our resources.  That is how life goes.

So then what prevents the believers from getting down and depressed and thinking that hope is either a myth or for someone else?  The truth, as we all know it, is that even believers can come to a point in life where their hope is thin or nonexistent.

It was the time Jesus spent in prayer that the disciples saw as the key to Jesus’ ability to do what he did and remain focused on his mission.

We certainly know we need to pray more.  The realities of life teach us that every day.  Not only the decisions and frustrations and disappointments of our own lives, but those our children and grandchildren face, can be overwhelming to say the least.

While we all agree our only strength will come from God, how do we tap into that?  If prayer is the key, how can we see results from our time in prayer?  How do we get that renewal, that strength and power we need to do what God has called us to do? 

The key to getting our prayers answered is not the form and content as much as knowing what to pray for.  Jesus said that God, like a parent, is faithful to answer our prayers with what we need.  He said a parent whose child asked for an egg would not give the child a scorpion.  The child who asked for a fish would not be given a viper.

If adults know how to provide for the needs of children, how much more would God who created us know how to provide for our needs?

Think about your prayers.  Many believers only pray for what they think will make their way through life easy.  Most prayers can be boiled down to two requests:  “God make me rich,” and “Make people like me.”

The sad part is that, as the children of God, we have asked for the viper when what we need is the fish.  We get it right in that we know we need help in getting what we need, but we often don’t even know what we need.  We ask for the wrong thing.  We ask God to make us rich even though we know wealth has ruined many lives. 

We say, “But it is different with me.  I will know how to handle that snake.  I will be able to do great things with it.  It won’t bite me!”

We need the nourishment God, our Creator, provides.  God knows nourishment is what is needed for our growth and development.

We ask for the scorpion when we need the egg.  “Make people like me, and give me good things.”  We say, “I can handle being number one.  I can handle being the best and the prettiest.  I can handle being popular.  I won’t get stung by the scorpion of conceit, because I have such a humble spirit.  I won’t forget my roots.”

When has fame ever been a positive way to nourish the human heart?  It just doesn’t work.

Jesus was saying that the wisdom of the parent knows when the child is hungry and what the child needs.  The parent will answer the child’s request for nourishment.

Even if a child demands a viper, or a scorpion, a loving parent would withhold such things from the child because the parent loves the child.

So how is your prayer life?  Have you been asking for the snakes and the scorpions?  Jesus said, “As bad as you are, still you know how to provide nourishment for you children.  How much more will God give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?”

There it is, my friends.  That is the key.  When we ask for God’s help in whatever aspect of life, we must ask for the right thing.  We must ask for that which will nourish us and help us grow and develop into what God has in mind.  That nourishment will come only from our deliberately asking for the Holy Spirit.

We believe that when we accept Christ as the payment for our sins, seek forgiveness and invite Christ into our lives, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us.  However, the Holy Spirit does not take over our lives and rule, but is present when we call for help, ready to give us the wisdom we need to make decisions and courage to stay true to our faith. 

The strength, power, and renewal that Jesus found in prayer are waiting when we ask for the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will show us God’s way in each situation and help us to listen and respond.

Our prayer life would take on a new richness and become the vital resource Jesus found it to be if we asked for the Holy Spirit of God to show us the way. 

What is on your mind today?  What have you been bringing to God in prayer and you just can’t seem to get an answer?  What are you worried about that may even be keeping you awake at night?  Is it your finances, your health, some relationship in your family, some problem with your friends? 

Maybe you have been praying and, because you haven’t had your prayers answered, you haven’t felt your faith growing.  Perhaps your faith is actually going the other way.  You have begun to entertain thoughts of wondering why God has refused you.  Does God not love you?  Are you not important enough to get an answer?  What does it take to get through to God?

Jesus said it only takes asking for right thing.  Have you been asking for the viper and the scorpion?  “Make me rich and make people like me.”

I want us to begin praying a different way.  Before we even begin to pray about something, let’s ask for God’s Holy Spirit to come and even direct our prayers. 

Instead of coming to God and dumping a long list of what we want God to do along with the detailed instructions of how we want God to do them, let’s begin looking at prayer as telling God how we see the situation, or the need, and then ask for the Holy Spirit to direct us as we allow God to meet that need according to God’s wisdom. 

God sees the whole picture.  God knows the challenges we face in life.  How we go about getting help with those challenges says what we believe about prayer.  Let’s let the Spirit of God speak to us even in the midst of those challenges.  Let’s accept the nourishment God has for us in the time spent with God in prayer.

Let’s not be like spoiled children, demanding candy when what we need is lunch.  Often our prayers are demanding for candy.  We want life on our terms, and things to happen our way.

God has spiritual food for us that can be gained only through being in God’s presence.  When we ask for God’s Holy Spirit, we will gain strength, and renewal.

                                                          Amen.

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