Microwave Prayers
Children's sermon
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Object:
A microwave oven or a picture of one
Are you hungry? Let me quickly make you some pizza or maybe popcorn. We are able to make things instantly! Often times when we're really hungry we think the faster we can get the food the better it is.
But in our Bible lesson today we see that there is something that is not so instant. Jesus was teaching his disciples about prayer. He was explaining that when they prayed that they needed to be persistent. He told them in Luke 11:9, to ask, seek, and knock. When we get what we want instantly, we often don't appreciate it but can become more greedy for more. But in prayer God wants our faith in him to grow, so that we will recognize the answer came from him.
There was a family that left America to go and live in Spain as missionaries. They needed a place to live and so they began to pray specifically for a place that would be furnished, a place on the first floor, a place for their kids to play outside, and they needed 4 bedrooms. Their friends in Spain began to look for a place. They also told them they had a Christmas wish list that they would add their friends' housing needs to! For several months they kept asking, seeking, and knocking.
When they arrived at the first apartment they saw it was furnished, had four bedrooms, was on the first floor and had a place for their kids to play outside. Their faith had been increased greatly to see how God cared.
God could answer instantly and sometimes does, but often He wants to teach us more about himself through the process.
How can we apply this to our lives?
When you pray, don't just pray once about something. But persist day after day believing how great your God is. You may want to put up a picture of what you are praying for so you are reminded often. Don't make just microwave prayers!
But in our Bible lesson today we see that there is something that is not so instant. Jesus was teaching his disciples about prayer. He was explaining that when they prayed that they needed to be persistent. He told them in Luke 11:9, to ask, seek, and knock. When we get what we want instantly, we often don't appreciate it but can become more greedy for more. But in prayer God wants our faith in him to grow, so that we will recognize the answer came from him.
There was a family that left America to go and live in Spain as missionaries. They needed a place to live and so they began to pray specifically for a place that would be furnished, a place on the first floor, a place for their kids to play outside, and they needed 4 bedrooms. Their friends in Spain began to look for a place. They also told them they had a Christmas wish list that they would add their friends' housing needs to! For several months they kept asking, seeking, and knocking.
When they arrived at the first apartment they saw it was furnished, had four bedrooms, was on the first floor and had a place for their kids to play outside. Their faith had been increased greatly to see how God cared.
God could answer instantly and sometimes does, but often He wants to teach us more about himself through the process.
How can we apply this to our lives?
When you pray, don't just pray once about something. But persist day after day believing how great your God is. You may want to put up a picture of what you are praying for so you are reminded often. Don't make just microwave prayers!
