You Do Not Have to Convince God.

“In that day you will ask in my name… for the Father himself loves you.” — John 16:26–27

Don't treat prayer like a sales pitch. We come to God with our reasons. We explain the problem. We remind Him how important it is. We may even quietly wonder if we can somehow say the right words and convince God to help.

Jesus gives us a much better picture. He says,

“The Father himself loves you.”

That changes prayer. Prayer is not standing outside God’s door, hoping He will let us in. Jesus has already opened the door. Because of Christ, we come as children coming home to a Father who loves them.

Of course we should ask God for things. Jesus taught us to ask for daily bread. He told us to bring our needs to the Father. But prayer is bigger than getting an answer.

Prayer is being with God. Think about someone you deeply love. You do not spend time with that person only because you need something. Sometimes you talk. Sometimes you listen. Sometimes you laugh. Sometimes you simply sit together. Love enjoys presence. Prayer can be like that.

And this matters when God does not answer the way we hoped. We prayed for healing, but the illness remained. We prayed for a door to

open, but it stayed shut. We prayed for the problem to disappear, but morning came and the problem was still sitting there. That does not mean God stopped listening. It does not mean God stopped loving.

The cross settles that question of being close to God. Jesus did not die so that we could persuade God to love us. Jesus died because God already loved us. The cross brings us into a relationship where we can call God Father.

So bring Him your requests. Bring Him your worries. Bring Him your disappointments. Ask boldly. Ask honestly. But do not miss the greater gift.

Sometimes the greatest answer to prayer is not that God changes our circumstances. Sometimes the greatest answer is that, while we are praying, God changes us.

We came asking for His hand. And somewhere along the way, we discovered His heart.

Have a great week.

-Pastor Corey