Truths to Remember When Praying - Tom Rayborn

Brothers and sisters,

we've come here to meet
with the living God.

The One who is your Savior, your Lord,

the Lover of your soul.

He's loved you from all of eternity.

The One who began your salvation

back in eternity, if you will,

who foreknew you; will glorify you.

And without faith it is impossible

to please Him,

for he who comes to God

must believe that He is,

and that He is a rewarder of those

who seek Him.

We come to Him by faith.

We come looking to Him; trusting Him.

Our eyes are on Him.

Who has He revealed Himself to?

Who are you coming to here?

To meet with?

The living God.

The Omniscient One.

The All-Powerful One.

The One who owns the cattle
on a thousand hills.

The One who all things are open
and laid bare before Him.

The One who knows your every need;

who has every hair of your head numbered.

When you come to Him to ask for a fish,

here in a moment,

He's not going to give you

something that you don't want - a snake.

When you come and ask Him for an egg,

He's not going to trick you

and give you a scorpion -
something that will hurt you.

Your Father is a good Father.

Your Savior, your Lord on the cross

bought all the benefits that allows you

right now to come into the presence,

and be seen by your Heavenly Father

holy and blameless and
without any reproach.

And He is a rewarder

of those who seek Him.

So, when you come to the Lord,

expect He's not only going to hear you

and meet with you,

but there is reward there.

And there's reward beyond what you

can grasp with your hand.

It's things that will be granted by grace

to perceive with your heart and your mind.

To be enriched as an heir of God

and a fellow heir with Christ.

So remember a couple little exhortations

from Luke 11, for instance.

Remember this One who you come to

is like the friend at midnight.

You come desperate.

You come at a very importune moment.

And yet, He's willing to give to you

because you persist.

You won't let go of this God.

What you need, you don't come,

with a quiet, little voice:
"May I please have...?"

There's a sense of boldness

as you come before His throne of grace.

Remember the widow who needed help

and she came to the unjust judge.

She would not leave that judge alone.

He finally gave in.

How much more your Heavenly Father

willingly gives in.

And then lastly,

remember a few words

from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

out of John 14.

"Whatever you ask in My name,

that will I do, so that the Father

may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask Me anything in My name,

I will do it.

If you abide in Me, and
My words abide in you,

ask whatever you wish,

and it will be done for you.

In that day, you will not
question Me about anything.

Truly, truly, I say to you,

if you ask the Father for
anything in My name,

He will give it to you.

Until now, you have asked
for nothing in My name.

Ask and you will receive,

so that your joy may be made full."

Don't forget that last part.

So that your joy may be made full.

Amen.