September 1, 2013 – Catechism 2607 – 2616

You can learn a lot just from looking at the words that are emphasized in these paragraphs.  Prayer starts with the “conversion of heart” of a person and this is something that Christ focuses on.  I have already written that this conversion of heart is not just a New Testament thing, but has been written in the Old Testament as well and sought by God from the beginning.  That is something I didn’t really realize until starting to dig into the Old Testament.

When we pray, we need “faith” and we need “filial boldness”.  Whatever we ask for we will receive and so we need to be bold in our prayer and have the faith that what we ask will be answered.  When you hear this, I think many might get the wrong idea.  You can understand this when my son says “I prayed for you to win the softball game and you didn’t”.  I don’t doubt my sons faith or boldness, but that prayer must be in line with God’s will.  We can pray for whatever we want, but if we first don’t line ourselves up with God’s will for us, which is always for our good, it isn’t going to happen.  How many lose faith because their prayers are not answered and have missed this crucial step.  Christ is, once again, the example for us when in the Garden.  Let this cup pass over, but your will, not mine, be done.  Pray with faith, and with boldness, and in line with God’s will, and Christ will answer.