We are like children, needing a lot of help in life. God is our father who loves to give us what we need.
2. We Are Thankful
My son is two. As soon as we pull into the Publix parking lot he recognizes it and starts saying, “Cookie?” Publix may be a lot of things, but to him, it’s the place where he gets a cookie…and maybe popcorn chicken.
One of the first things we do when we get in the store is to go to the bakery and get a cookie. When the Publix person hands him the cookie he also knows that he’ll hear something from mom or dad, “What do you say?” We’ve said it enough times that most of the time, now, he just says, “Thank you,” without having to be prompted.
God does give us all that we need. He has given us life and salvation, daily bread, protection, the church, and so much more. As the one who is the giver of all good things, our right response is to say, “Thank you.”
3. We Are Commanded To
Throughout the Bible, God tells us to pray. He knows that we need it. We tend to think of prayer as something we do to get God’s attention or let Him know what we need. However, we already have God’s attention and He already knows what we need. Yet, He still commands us to pray.
The very nature of prayer shows us that we need God. I don’t ask my neighbor to help me tie my shoes. Why? Because I don’t need his help to tie my shoes. I do, however, ask God a lot of things both for me and for others. Why? Because I need His help. I need God.
In
Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the temple. Jesus praised the tax collector who prayed humbly and rebuked the Pharisee for His pride. When we pray, at least when we pray properly, we are reminded of our utter dependence on God. It humbles us. We remember that we are the creation and God is our creator.
4. We Are Sinful
We sin. We do it a lot. So, we need forgiveness. Thankfully, we have a God who loves to forgive. Sometimes, like Adam and Eve in the garden, we may feel like hiding our sin, but God wants us to come to Him with our sin so we can hear the assurance of our forgiveness.
He also wants us to come to Him when we feel the temptation to sin that we would be strengthened against that temptation and would escape it.
