Two of the first words we learn as toddlers are please and thank you – rather than demanding and expecting to get an immediate response. If we look at our relationship to God in this way, things might go a lot easier for us.  Instead we return to our childish ways – thinking we don’t need His intervention – do what we think will be best for us – make decisions based on that – fail – and wonder why things didn’t go our way.

I am convinced that God wants what’s best for us.  He invites us to call on His name in time of trouble, to provide for our daily needs, to forgive us for our wrongdoing, to ask with confidence that He will answer our prayers, but we soon forget and try to manage our lives all by ourselves.

When you come to God in prayer, saying please is the easy part. Were all needy in so many ways and unfortunately want immediate results.  When we don’t get the answer we want or feel we should have, we get discouraged or even give up.  At that point we are not allowing God to do the work for us.  That’s when things break down.

Prayer is our communication with our heavenly Father.  It is not only a time to lay our requests at His feet, but also a time to thank Him for what He’s already done for us and to praise Him for His hand in our lives.  There is nothing that He cannot do and He does listen to every one of our prayers.

Pray today with confidence that He will answer and then thank Him with words of praise and honor and actions of love and service for Him.  I know it works!