Matthew 7:7, 9-11 NLT
[7] “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you….
[9] “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? [10] Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! [11] So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

As I have said before, prayer is a mystery. Why do I say that?

How is it possible that an almighty, holy God, creator and sustainer of the universe, who numbers and names every star and planet, can hear, or would want to hear the faintest whisper from one individual among billions? How can He know each one’s needs before we ask Him? How can He invite us, no, urge us to pray, to seek Him, to persist in our pursuit of His presence, His favour, and His blessing? Even more, why does He want us to partner with Him in His management of the earth and its creatures, through prayer?

Although we will never fathom the depth of His thoughts or understand the grandeur of His ways, the Bible tells us very clearly that God Is good Father.

To me, this is even more amazing, that God should want to be our Father; that He should desire a fellowship so close that we would call Him “Abba”. He wants us to live in that daddy/child intimacy that depends on and trusts Him implicitly as a little child would cling to daddy’s hand for security and protection.

How do we know that this is true? Are we creating something that our hearts deeply desire and lack because our earthly fathers have failed us? Are we stepping into forbidden territory through our undisciplined imagination, pulling God down to our level?

The Bible says an emphatic “No!” to our speculations. Jesus is the evidence that assures us that this notion is not from us but from the Father Himself.

Although the Old Covenant makes mention of God’s role as a tender and loving Father to His people…

Hosea 11:1-4 NLT
[1] “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. [2] But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. [3] I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him. [4] I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him.”

Malachi 1:6 NLT
[6] The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!“

… God’s frustration with His people is the frustration of a father who does everything for his children but they persist in rebelling against his authority in return.

David, God’s model king, recognised the father-heart of God in his magnificent song of praise, perhaps through his own experience.

Psalms 103:13-14 NLT
[13] “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. [14] For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.”

However, the revelation of God’s father role to those who belong to Him came to full bloom when Jesus came to earth as His Son. He modelled the attitude and life of a true son, and taught His disciples how to respond to God as their heavenly Father.

Have you ever noticed Jesus’ powerful statement to Mary after His resurrection when He confirmed everything He had taught His disciples about the Father?

John 20:17 NLT
[17] “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and YOUR FATHER, to my God and YOUR GOD.’”

Everything about their relationship with God as Father hung on this one crucial event – Jesus’ resurrection. He died and rose again to bring Father and estranged sons together. Reconciliation is at the heart of our father/child relationship with God.

He sent His Spirit into our hearts to take up permanent residence in us and to give us a strong awareness of who we are.

Romans 8:15-16 NLT
[15] “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” [16] For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.”

God’s promise to Israel is His assurance to us too.

Isaiah 46:3-4 NLT
[3] “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. [4] I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

1 John 3:1 NLT
[1]” See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!…”

This reality brings me to two important facts about God and us as Father and sons, and prayer.

Matthew 6:9-10 NLT
[9] “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. [10] May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven….”

First, we always come to God in prayer as our Father. We recognise who He is, our HEAVENLY Father… sovereign, holy, His will supreme but… He is our Father. It’s that close, intimate, humble, child-like attitude that should characterise our interaction with God. We don’t come as shoppers with grocery-lists of demands and requests; we don’t come as orphans with cap-in-hand to beg for favours; we don’t come as strangers hoping for help when we run into trouble; we come as beloved children to a Father who takes His role of provider and protector seriously.

Second, we should keep coming to Him with everything. “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you….” Prayer is not about nagging God until He responds to us. Prayer is about always bringing everything to God because He is a good Father.

Surely, Jesus said, if earthly parents, who are essentially evil, know that it’s right to give their children the good things they ask for, how much more will God, who is our good Father, give us what is good for us.

So, if God is a good Father in the way He responds to our prayers, He is a good Father in all the ways He treats us. He supervises our lives from beginning to end, from conception to our last breath. Even if we don’t understand what’s going on, we can trust Him because He is working for our good.

Good, good, good, all the time!

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His covenant love endures forever.”