Prayer
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Whatever form our prayers take we should think of them not as overcoming God's reluctance, but tapping God's willingness. His help is always available-if only we ask for it.
No one has ever yet said a real prayer and not received an answer from God. It is not even necessary to be in a state of grace to get an answer to prayer. Further, God desires to answer our prayer much more than we desire to make it. We tap very gently, and because the door is not at once opened, we go away and think union with God refused us. Where has God said He will only hear the prayers of holy people?
"Ask, and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. Is there a man among you who would hand his son a stone when he asks for bread? Or would hand him a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him" (Matt 7:8-11)
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