Prayer Pleasing to God – Charles Spurgeon

YOU love to hear your own little children’s talk. Now, you know very well when your little girl wants a new dress, and you are well aware that when your little boy needs fresh school books, there is no necessity whatever that Mary should inform you about her clothes, or that Master John should tell you about his books; for you know what they have need of long before they ask you: but you like them to feel their wants and to recognize that they are supplied by their father; and, therefore, you like to hear them express their desires. Sometimes you will stop a bit and say, “No, why should I give you this?” You set them a-pleading, because you like to hear their little prattling voices, and to have them put their little arms around your neck and overcome you with kisses. You let them believe that they master you with their pretty reasonings and fond embraces, and it is pleasant to you as well as to them. Now, our heavenly Father is far above us, and yet he bids us learn his character from our own feelings as parents. If we, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto our children, how much more shall our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? The Lord declares that he deals with us as with sons; I know the next word is, “for what son is there whom his father chastens not?” but I do not believe that God’s likeness to a father is limited to his chastening. The text cannot be so cross and crabbed as that. Oh, no! there is a likeness to a father in his hearing our cries. He loves communion with his people. The Lord loves to have the hearts of his children talk to him; he delights to hear them spread out their wants before him and order their case with arguments and prevail with them. Oh, then, never be slack in your pleadings, which are pleasant to God as fragrant incense.