“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)
When was the last time you heard a five year old say something like this? “I’m really struggling in my conversation life with my dad. I’m not sure if I’m talking to him in the right way. I feel so guilty asking him for things all the time.”
Kids don’t think that way. They ask their dads for what they want. And because even flawed human dads like to give good things to their kids, it works out.
God does not want us to think of him as a religious system or theological idea. He doesn’t want us to work on our “prayer life” or use all the right church words when we pray. He just wants us to talk to him like a dad – to tell him what we’re thinking, ask for what we want, and say thanks for what he gives.
He likes his kids. He likes giving us good things. He holds back things that will hurt us. He’s a good dad.
Think: Do you think we tend to make our relationship with God more complicated than it needs to be? Why do you think it’s tough for us to think of him as a dad who likes us?
Pray: Thank your Father that he likes to give you good gifts.
Do: If you can, ask your dad how he feels (or felt) when you ask him for good things – even if he can’t always give them to you.