On Child-like Asking

<p>In the last lesson we learned from Andrew Murray that loving obedience to the Father is key to receiving the good gifts in answer to prayer. This child-like living is best seen in the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount, in that the child of God is one who is meek, pursuing righteousness, giving, forgiving, praying, being salt and light, and <em>who not only say, Lord, Lord, but do the will of my Father which is in heaven</em>.</p><p>But to many of us this can be a bit daunting. Are we to first be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, before asking or being given the good gifts? Asks Murray, will not such teaching discourage the feeble one? If we are first to answer to this portrait of a child, must not many give up all hope of answers to prayer? </p><p>And he answers: The difficulty is removed if we think again of the blessed name of <em>father</em> and <em>child</em>…The Lord does not demand of us a perfect fulfillment of the law; no, but only the childlike and whole-hearted surrender to live as a child with Him in obedience and truth. Nothing more. But also, nothing less. The Father must have the whole heart. When this is given, and He sees the child with honest purpose and steady will seeking in everything to be and live as a child, then our prayer will count with Him as the prayer of a child.</p><p>In the names of father and child he has the pledge that his petitions will be granted. He would have us see that the secret of effectual prayer is: <em>to have the heart filled with the Father-love of God.</em> It is not enough for us to know that God is a Father: He would have us take time to come under the full impression of what that name implies. </p><p>Certainly, even the best of earthly fathers are at best poor examples, but we can imagine the care, the tenderness and the love a good father should have, and the manner in which he listens to and grants each request. </p><p>Then, says Murray, as we think in adoring worship of the infinite Love and Fatherliness of God, consider with how much more tender