Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?: e tis estin (3SPAI) ex humon anthropos, on aitesei (3SFAI) o huios autou arton me lithon epidosei (3SFAI) auto (Luke 11:11-13)

What man is there among you - Obviously a father does not give that which is harmful to a child, but rather that which will be for good. Keep in mind that is this comparison, human parents are only a faint picture of the our Father's heart. He delights to give His children those things which are for their good and what will be for their lasting profit. Prayer is the appointed means whereby these mercies are received.

Spurgeon writes...

Our Lord will give us the real thing. Sometimes we should be quite satisfied with the imitation of it. And sometimes we have to wait and be prepared for the reception of the real thing; it is infinitely better for us to wait for months than immediately to get ,a stone; better to wait for a fish than the next moment to have a scorpion. There were some in the wilderness who asked to be satisfied, and they were so, with the flesh of quails. They got their stones, they got their scorpions. But the Lord’s people may sometimes find that they have to wait a while. ,God will not give to them that which is other than good for them.

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E M Bounds tells of an encouraging story of a praying son of the Most High who asked specifically "for a loaf" and did not receive "a stone"...“

Some years ago the record of a wonderful work of grace in connection with one of the stations of the China Inland Mission attracted a good deal of attention. Both the number and spiritual character of the converts had been far greater than at other stations where the consecration of the missionaries had been just as great.

This rich harvest of souls remained a mystery until Hudson Taylor, on a visit to England, discovered the secret. At the close of one of his addresses a gentleman came forward to make his acquaintance. In the conversation which followed, Mr. Taylor was surprised at the accurate knowledge the man possessed concerning this China Inland Mission station.

“But how is it,” Mr. Taylor asked, “that you are so conversant with the conditions of that work?”

“Oh!” he replied, “the missionary there and I are old college mates; for years we have regularly corresponded; he has sent me names of enquirers and converts, and these I have daily taken to God in prayer.”

At last the secret was found — a praying man, praying definitely, praying daily. (E. M. Bounds, Purpose in Prayer) (You can join the company of men like him - add the following resource to your morning discipline and you will be eternally grateful - Global Prayer Digest  - pray daily for the unreached peoples and one day you will meet the fruit of your "asking, seeking and knocking" labor in heaven even as has this old English saint!)

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A Stone Or Bread?- No loving father would give a stone or a snake to his hungry son if he asked for a piece of bread or a fish. Jesus used the absurdity of that analogy in Matthew 7 to underscore the heavenly Father's readiness to give good things to His children when they ask Him. He wanted them to have complete confidence in the Father's provision for their spiritual needs. Sometimes, however, it may seem as if the Lord has given us "stones" instead of "bread." But in His wisdom, He actually is working through our circumstances to give us something far better than what we requested. An unknown author expressed it this way:

I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked God for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn to obey.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power and the praise of men;
I was given weakness to sense my need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for but everything I hoped for;
In spite of myself, my prayers were answered—
I am among all men most richly blessed.
Yes, God always gives us what's best for us.
 

R De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

We may ask amiss,
but God answers aright.

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Confident Prayer - As one of Africa's first explorers, David Livingstone loved its people and longed to see them evangelized. His journals reveal his spiritual concern and deep faith.

In late March 1872, he wrote, "He will keep His word--the gracious One, full of grace and truth--no doubt of it. He said, 'Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out' and 'Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name I will give it.' He will keep His word; then I can come and humbly present my petition, and it will be all right. Doubt is here inadmissible, surely."

Livingstone had rock-like confidence in the Father's promises. In our praying we too can exercise the trust that God will not deny our requests when they are in keeping with His will. (By the way, are we reading His Word so that we know His will?)

We can defeat doubt when we remind ourselves that no matter what happens in life, He cares deeply about us and longs to give us the wisdom to handle what comes our way (1 Pet. 5:7; Jas. 1:5). Our faith will grow stronger as we realize that our heavenly Father is gracious, delighting to give good gifts to His children (Mt. 7:11). Humbly but confidently, we can come to Him with our requests. --V C Grounds (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring,
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much. --Newton

When we love God as our Father,
we won't treat Him as our servant.

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Keeping Track Of Prayers - Shortly before Margaret Koster died in 1997, I wrote an article about her, telling of her diligence in prayer. Despite her age, she set an example of faithfulness in prayer—continuing to spend hours each day speaking with the Lord she loved. Now she's reaping the rewards of that faithfulness.

But there's another story about Margaret that needs to be told—a story of how seriously she took her prayer-life. When she was younger, Margaret would pray each day for missionaries she knew about. She also kept a journal of her prayers—complete with answers.

One time when one of "her" missionaries was home from his overseas ministry, Margaret approached him, showed him her journal, and said, "I have recorded every prayer request you made as a missionary. And I have put down every answer that I know of. But I also have some prayers for which I don't know the answers. You need to sit down with me and tell me how God answered those prayers so I can write them down."

Now that's taking prayer seriously! We learn from Margaret not only the importance of prayer but also the reality of God's answers. Remember, "If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). —Dave Branon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

We must call on the Lord with reverence,
When we go to Him in prayer;
In His time He will send the answers
To show us His love and care. —Fitzhugh

If we take God seriously
we'll be serious about prayer.

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In John Piper’s book Desiring God he explains why more Christians are not asking, seeking, knocking writing that...

Unless I’m badly mistaken, one of the main reasons so many of God’s children don’t have a significant life of prayer is not so much that we don’t want to, but that we don’t plan to. If you want to take a four-week vacation, you don’t just get up one summer morning and say, “Hey, let’s go today!” You won’t have anything ready. You won’t know where to go. Nothing has been planned.

But that is how many of us treat prayer. We get up day after day and realize that significant times of prayer should be part of our life, but nothing’s ever ready. We don’t know where to go. Nothing has been planned. No time. No place. No procedure. And we all know that the opposite of planning is not a wonderful flow of deep, spontaneous experiences in prayer. The opposite of planning is the rut. If you don’t plan a vacation you will probably stay home and watch TV!

The natural unplanned flow of spiritual life
sinks to the lowest ebb of vitality.

There is a race to be run and a fight to be fought. If you want renewal in your life of prayer you must plan to see it.

Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?: e kai ichthun aitesei (3SFAI) me ophin epidosei (3SFAI) auto?

Spurgeon writes...

The point is, not only that God gives, but that he knows how to give. If he were always to give according to our prayers, it might be very injurious to us. He might give us that with which we could do hurt, as when a father should put a stone into a boy’s hand; or he might give us that which might do us hurt, as if a father were to give his child a serpent. He will do neither of these things; but be will answer us in discretion, and with prudence will he fulfill our desires. You know how to give to your children; bow much more shall your infinitely-wise Father, who from heaven sees all the surroundings of men, give good things to them that ask him?

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!: ei oun humeis poneroi ontes (PAPMPN) oidate (2SRAI) domata agatha didonai (PAN) tois teknois humon, poso mallon o pater humon o en tois ouranois dosei (3SFAI) agatha tois aitousin (PAPMPD) auton. (Genesis 6:5; 8:21; Job 15:16; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9,19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1-3; Titus 3:3)(Exodus 34:6,7; 2 Samuel 7:19; Psalms 86:5,15; 103:11-13; Isaiah 49:15; 55:8,9; Hosea 11:8,9; Micah 7:18; Malachi 1:6; Luke 11:11-13; John 3:16; Romans 5:8-10; 8:32; Ephesians 2:4,5; 1 John 3:1; 4:10) (Psalms 84:11; 85:12; Jeremiah 33:14; Hosea 14:2; Luke 2:10,11; 11:13; 2 Corinthians 9:8-15; Titus 3:4-7)

Spurgeon asks...

Is there a connection between this conduct on our part and answers to our prayer? Undoubtedly it is so from the position of the text. If we will never grant the requests of those who need our help, in oases where we should expect to be ourselves helped, how can we go to God with any confidence, and ask him to help us? I doubt not that many a man has received no answer to his prayer because that prayer has come out of a heart hard and untender, which would not permit him to grant the requests of others. O child of God, do thou to others as thou wouldst that they should do to thee, then canst thou go to thy God in prayer with the confidence that he will hear and answer thee!

Being (1510) (eimi) means to be and is the usual verb of existence. In this case the present tense indicates that evil is our nature! Evil is a stark description of the fundamental human condition.

Evil (4190) (poneros from pónos = labor, sorrow, pain) means evil in active opposition to good. The point Jesus makes is striking. Even earthly parents who are evil in the sense of being actively opposed to good, are still predisposed to constantly be giving good gifts to their children. That being the case, how much more willing is the perfect Father give good gifts to those who keep asking Him!

Good gifts Good fathers are eager to help their children and give good gifts to their children.

Jesus use of "much more" is what is referred to as an argument from the lesser to the greater (a fortiori argument), in this case from the human to the divine. If it is true of the lesser, how much more of the greater. God is our Father, our Abba, our Dearest Father par excellence! Think of our earthly fathers at their very best and multiply that by infinity, and you have it.  As fathers, few of us are perfect, but even the most imperfect of us are usually able to love our children. But there is a Father Who is much greater than we are and Whose heart is pure and good and Whose love knows no bounds.  Isaiah records our Father's words (He is speaking to Israel but the principle applies to believers)...:

"Can the mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15)

And so our Heavenly Father bids us come to Him in prayer. He never errs and never makes mistakes like even the best of earthly fathers. That is the real meaning of the phrase “how much more.” God knows much more than we do. God cares much more than we do. He is richer than we are and he is far more willing to answer our prayers than we are to have them answered. And we know that our Father loves us because He gave His own Son to die for us even when we were His enemies. Will He refuse us any good thing we ask of Him? The cross proves that the heart of God is good. And we come to that same good heart every time we pray.

Note the final phrase  “to those who ask Him.” We should expect God to answer our prayers and we can expect nothing without prayer. In the deepest, most profound sense God’s blessings are “limited” to those who ask for them. He will not give if we do not ask. The gates of heaven open to those who pray. Those same gates are closed to everyone else.

Carson writes that...

“What is fundamentally at stake is man’s picture of God. God must not be thought of as a reluctant stranger who can be cajoled or bullied into bestowing his gifts (6:7–8), as a malicious tyrant who takes vicious glee in the tricks he plays (vv. 9–10), or even as an indulgent grandfather who provides everything requested of him. He is the heavenly Father, the God of the kingdom, who graciously and willingly bestows the good gifts of the kingdom in answer to prayer.” (Carson, D A: Sermon on the Mount: An Evangelical Exposition of Matthew 5-7: 1982, Baker Pub Group)

Someone once said,

"Any discussion of the doctrine of prayer that does not issue in the practice of prayer is not only not helpful, but harmful."

Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare
by John Newton

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare:
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He Himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay;
Therefore will not say thee nay.

Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much;
None can ever ask too much.
play hymn

J R Miller  (