If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

                                                                                                                       Matthew 7:11 

Good versus evil. We see it in all kinds of literature. The hero battles it out with the villain. And as an audience, we are always looking for truth, justice, and goodness to prevail over the influences of darkness. But these types of battles are not just backdrops for good story telling rather this is the reality of the world in which we live. There are two kingdoms, that of God and that of Satan. And all of us must choose as to which kingdom we pledge our loyalty. While we know the difference between good and evil, it is important for us to always remember that good comes from the kingdom of God. Perhaps there is no better scripture that reveals this truth than today’s passage.

God is the Giver of all things good. But how does the Bible define “good”? The word is agathos and can be defined as things that are useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, and happy. Good things are favorable to or promoting health, and promote or are conducive to some beneficial purpose. God is benevolently good and is willing to give these types of things to everyone who asks (Matthew 7:8, 11). So how do we receive “good” from the Lord? I believe by considering and following these three biblical principles to prayer, we can see the benevolent, kind, and gracious hand of God in our lives. 

1. Our requests can be made in private

But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 

                                                                                                                        Matthew 6:6 

We do not need the presence of anyone else for us to talk to God about our needs. God is willing to give what is good to those who ask and He rewards us as we approach Him in secret. Do you remember the woman with the issue of blood? She believed that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, that she would be healed (Matthew 9:21). She didn’t need to confer with the disciples or anyone else in the crowd. The faith that she possessed in her own heart was enough for her to receive the supernatural healing that she was so desperately seeking. The same works for us. We only need to approach God in the quiet and privacy of our own special place where we meet with Him.

2. Our requests do not require repetition

And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.

                                                                                                                       Matthew 6:7 

We need to stop thinking that we need to somehow plead with God to give us what is good. He already knows what we need before we even ask (Matthew 6:8). We need to be so connected to God that we know His heart. We need to understand that He is not stingy nor does He require us to agonize in prayer. Repetition in prayer only serves to demonstrate that we either do not understand or have rejected this clear and concise instruction from Christ. We are not heard by our words or the repetitious nature of our prayer. We are heard because we belong to Christ and He desires to meet us with a loving and benevolent heart.

3. Our requests must be accompanied by faith 

Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. 

                                                                                                                     Mark 11:23-24 

When we pray and ask for what is “good,” our requests need to be accompanied by faith. When we doubt, we are proving ourselves to be unstable and double-minded. Consider James’ words:

But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

                                                                                                                        James 1:6 

When we pray, we need to understand and rely on the heart of God and stop doubting that He desires to give us what is “good.” Jesus tells us that if we have faith, the thing for which we are praying will be granted when we believe. Faith is the currency by which we demonstrate our dependence and reliance on God. But this kind of prayer is only possible as we understand the benevolent, loving, and gracious nature of God.

God is better than any earthly parent at providing us with goodness. He is willing to give us beneficial things consistent with His goodness as we ask in faith. As believers in Jesus, we are God’s children and fellow heirs of His kingdom (Romans 8:16-17). Let us remember our standing with God because of Christ and pray as those who have already experienced spiritual victory! 

Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. 

                                                                                                            Psalm 37:4