Jimmy asks his dad for some eggs for breakfast. Dad gets out of bed, lumbers over to the refrigerator, pulls out a live scorpion, and drops it on Jimmy’s plate. That afternoon as they are fishing, Jimmy, still skeptical of what happened when he asked for eggs, asks his dad for a fish fry for dinner. His dad opens up the live well in the boat and hands Jimmy a live rattlesnake. 

True story? No! No father, even the worst of criminals, would do that to his children when they ask for food! That is precisely Jesus’ point. He says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11). Even imperfect fathers know how to give good gifts. What about a perfect Father in heaven? He gives perfect gifts. In fact, God loves it when you ask! Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). Followers of Christ can pray boldly! And when we pray, we know that God will give us perfect gifts. God has already given you the greatest perfect gift in Jesus, who has given you a relationship with his Father by dying on a cross.

Use it! Pray boldly as a child asks his father!