Jesus teaches us that God, like a loving father, will give good gifts to those who ask with childlike faith

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? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Matthew 7:9-11

Childlike Faith and Prayer in Biblical Perspective

This Lesson presents a theological position on childlike faith and prayer, drawn from Andrew Murray’s teachings on the relationship between living as children of God and receiving answered prayers from our Heavenly Father.

Key Details:

* The passage quotes Matthew 7:9-11 about Jesus teaching that God, like a loving father, will give good gifts to those who ask with childlike faith

* Andrew Murray explains that prayer is effective only when the child lives in loving, obedient relationship with God

* The lesson connects childlike faith to the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus describes characteristics of children of God: meek, righteous, forgiving, and obedient

* Murray emphasizes that God doesn’t require perfection but wholehearted surrender to live as a child with Him

* The text concludes with the prayer request “Abba, Father” as the key to effective prayer

3 Main Quotes:

“When we ask with child-like faith, our Father answers with good gifts”

“The power of the promise, Ask, and it shall be given you, lies in the loving relationship between us as children and the Father in heaven”

“The Lord does not demand of us a perfect fulfillment of the law; no, but only the childlike and whole-hearted surrender to live as a child with Him in obedience and truth”

4 Theological Principles:

* Effective prayer requires living in the loving relationship with God as children

* Childlike faith is demonstrated through obedience to God’s commands

* The “Abba, Father” prayer is presented as the foundation for all effective prayer

* God’s Fatherhood is characterized by infinite love and compassion

Why It Matters:

This passage teaches that prayer is not about being perfect before praying, but about surrendering our whole hearts to live in God’s love and truth, trusting that He will answer our petitions with the same tender care He shows to His children.

The podcast explores this and more in three questions as we study Andrew Murray’s teaching, learning about childlike praying .

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With Christ in the School of Prayer, Twenty-third Lesson, by Andrew Murray

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