November 13

When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven. — Luke 11:12

It is a great thing to know that we really may pray. The name Father is assurance enough. Certainly if God is our Father He will hear, and love to hear, His children’s cries.

The Lord’s Prayer teaches us that we are not to put our needs first. Count how many petitions there are before we get to “daily bread.” Most of us put our own wants first and then God’s name, kingdom, and will far down the list.

We must also be earnest in praying. The man wanting bread got it, not because it was his friend’s door at which he was, but because he would not stop knocking. He knew there was bread in that house, and he was bound to get it. So our Master would have us stay at our Father’s door, asking, seeking, knocking. The blessings we need are in His hands, and we can get them if we continue in our importunity. We are sure of our Father’s love, too – that He wants to give us what we need, that He will never offer us anything but the best.