No matter what we face, we are called to pray because God is able to do what we cannot. Jesus teaches us that when we ask, seek, and knock, God responds—not because of our eloquence or persistence, but because of His limitless power and capacity. There is no situation too great, no need too deep, and no hope too far gone for God’s ability. When we pray, we are not just reciting words; we are reaching out to the One who can do exceedingly and abundantly above all we ask or think. Trust that God’s “able” is always greater than our “unable.” [40:03]
Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Reflection: What is one area of your life that feels impossible right now? Will you bring it to God in prayer today, believing that He is able to do more than you can imagine?
God is not a distant or indifferent deity; He is a loving Father who cares deeply for His children. Jesus reminds us that we approach God not as strangers or beggars, but as beloved sons and daughters with unlimited, unrestricted access. Unlike earthly authorities who are hard to reach, God is always available—there are no office hours, no barriers, no waiting lines. You can call on Him at any time, in any place, and He will hear you because His heart is turned toward you. [46:16]
Matthew 6:9 (ESV)
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’”
Reflection: When was the last time you simply enjoyed God’s presence as your loving Father? How can you intentionally approach Him today, not out of duty, but out of relationship?
God’s gifts are always good, never harmful or useless. Jesus assures us that God, as our perfect parent, will not give us stones when we ask for bread or snakes when we ask for fish. Even when life’s answers seem delayed or different than expected, God’s wisdom and love ensure that what He provides is truly for our good. Sometimes, what we think we want is not what we need, but God’s gifts are always perfect, timely, and life-giving. [48:02]
Matthew 7:9-11 (ESV)
“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Reflection: Can you recall a time when God’s answer to your prayer was different than what you expected, but turned out to be exactly what you needed? How does that shape your trust in Him today?
Prayer is not just a way to get what we want from God; it is the means by which God shapes us to live out His kingdom values. Through prayer, we receive the patience, love, forgiveness, and righteousness that are otherwise beyond our reach. Just as a step stool helps a child reach what is too high, prayer lifts us to the heights of God’s expectations—enabling us to treat others as we wish to be treated and to embody the surpassing righteousness Jesus calls us to. [50:33]
Matthew 7:12 (ESV)
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Reflection: Who is one person you find it difficult to treat with kindness or forgiveness? Will you pray specifically for God’s help to love them as He loves you?
The ultimate proof of God’s care is found in Jesus Christ—His death, resurrection, and ongoing intercession for us. God’s love is not just a feeling; it is demonstrated in action, as He gave His Son for our salvation and continues to meet our deepest needs. Because of Christ, we can be confident that God not only can, but cares enough to act on our behalf, giving us what we need to live righteous and hope-filled lives. [01:02:18]
Romans 8:32 (ESV)
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
Reflection: How does remembering Christ’s sacrifice and ongoing intercession change the way you approach God in prayer today?
When we pause to reflect on all that God has done, gratitude wells up in our hearts. Today, we are reminded that prayer is not just a tradition or a formula passed down through generations, but the very heartbeat of our relationship with God. Like a cherished family recipe, prayer has often been reduced to methods and steps—tiny pieces—when in truth, its power lies in the reason behind it. We don’t pray simply because we’ve been taught how; we pray because of who God is and what God does.
Jesus, in teaching about prayer, moves us beyond the “how” to the “why.” We pray because God is able—able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask or imagine. Whatever we bring to God, God has the capacity to answer, to provide, to open doors that seem closed, and to give wisdom when we seek it. But God is not just able; God is affectionate. We approach God as beloved children, not as strangers or beggars. God’s affection means we have unrestricted, unlimited access—no office hours, no barriers. Unlike earthly powers who are distant and inaccessible, our God is always near, always attentive, always caring.
Moreover, God’s goodness assures us that what we receive in prayer is never useless or harmful. God gives good gifts, not burdens disguised as blessings. Even when our lived experience seems to contradict this—when prayers seem unanswered or help feels delayed—we are encouraged to keep pressing on. Sometimes, like Katniss in The Hunger Games, we are closer to the answer than we realize, and God’s timing is perfect, seeing what we cannot.
Prayer is the step stool that lets us reach the high things of faith that are otherwise beyond us: forgiveness, love, patience, humility, and joy. On our own, these virtues are out of reach, but through prayer, God makes them accessible. Prayer is not just a means to get what we want from God; it is the way God gets what God wants out of us—lives marked by righteousness, compassion, and the ability to treat others as we wish to be treated. So, keep praying—because God is able, God is accessible, and God cares. Whatever is beyond us is never beyond our God.
Matthew 7:7-12 (ESV) — 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Ephesians 3:20 (ESV) — Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
James 1:17 (ESV) — Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
We pray because we have the assurance of our association with God—or let me say it succinctly, we pray because God is affectionate towards us. God is able, God can, but God is affectionate. God cares. Listen, earlier when Jesus taught us to pray, Jesus told us to approach God not as someone who needs to curry favor with God, but as someone would as a child would approach a loving parent. Jesus taught us that we are the children of God—a God who is not a deadbeat parent but one that is able, attentive, affectionate, and available. [00:40:16] (44 seconds) #PrayerThroughAffection
Prayer is not just a device for us to get what we want from the Lord. Prayer is actually a device that God—it gets what God wants out of us, which is the right treatment of our sisters and brothers. Prayer is what makes us tall enough to live into God's expectations of kingdom living. [00:52:48] (22 seconds) #PrayerEmpowersForgiveness
Her grandmother tells her, baby, will you help grandma reach up there in the cabinet and bring down some bowls? And the little girl says, well, grandma, I can't. They're too tall. It's too high. It's over my head. It's beyond me. And grandma said, yes you can, baby. Go get the step stool. Can I tell you something? That's what prayer is. Prayer is the stool that lets us reach into the high things of the faith that are beyond us. [00:53:28] (41 seconds) #KeepPrayingGodIsAble
Forgiving people that have done me wrong, that's beyond me. But through prayer, we can forgive. Loving people who despitefully use us, I know that's beyond us. But through prayer, we can love even when our heart is broken. Loving our enemies, people who oppress and abuse us, I know it's beyond us in our own strength. But through prayer, we can find a way to bless those scoundrels anyway. Being meek and humble, I know that's not our bag, it's beyond us. But through prayer, we can do it. Being faithful may be beyond us, but through prayer, we can reach it. Exercising kindness and patience may be beyond us, but through prayer, it's in reach. Yeah, yeah, being grateful and having joy may seem beyond us, but through prayer, we can have peace, even peace that passes all understanding. Joy may seem beyond us, it may seem over our heads, but through prayer, even joy is in reach. [00:54:10] (72 seconds) #GodIsAffectionateAndAble
My kids are hilarious, they're smart little girls, and they really know at least how to manipulate their father. They found out that they can get whatever they want out of me when they remind me that I love them. They ask because they believe that their daddy can, and they ask because they know that their daddy cares. I'm a limited being, but my care drags the capacity of my can in their favor. The same is why we pray. God can, God cares, and God will give us what we need to live righteous lives for him. [01:00:21] (70 seconds)
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