A man brought to Jesus his daughter who “had an unclean spirit.” Jesus told the man, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). The child’s father tearfully cried out to Christ, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24).

When the disciples tried to prevent children from bothering Jesus, He told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). To be what God desires, we must be like little children in our faith. This can be very difficult of course. Adults usually pride themselves on their maturity and sophistication. But, God wants His “children” (Christians) to believe in Him as little children believe in their parents.

Little children usually have total faith in their parents. Psychiatrist, Dr. M. Scott Peck (The Road Less Traveled) claims that young children totally believe in their parents. They think parents do everything right and are to be revered. He says, “It is not so much what our parents say that determines our world view as it is the unique world they create for us by their behavior.” The doctor added, “Our parents are godlike figures to our childish eyes. When parents do things a certain way, it seems to the young child the way to do them.” God wants believers to realize that, unlike earthly parents, who are all imperfect, He is perfect and worthy of total reverence and love.

When we petition God for something, we are to try our best at believing He will grant it, according to His will. Jesus advised, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”(Mark 11:24). The original Greek translation said, “Believe that you have them,” implying that we are to think and act as though the petition has already been granted. James warns that we have not because we ask not (James 4:2). It is the lack of faith that keeps Christians from asking for things.

But Jesus clearly tells us, “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do” (John 14:13). However, the Lord also warns, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Mark 14:15). So we can see from other Scripture that answered prayer is tied to obedience as well as to faith. For example, Peter warns, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

As children of God, we are more like children than we would admit. We are constantly petitioning God our Father in Heaven for things. But we sometimes pray “amiss,” as James pointed out (James 4:3). And many Christians think God is too busy to bother with their small petitions. They fail to realize just how big and great our Father is. He has the time for each of His children and wants us to ask Him for what we need or even want.

The truth is that we don’t pray enough or often enough. The Apostle Paul advised us to, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). But in all our praying and asking, let us remember the example Jesus set for us. The Lord ended His prayers to His Father with, “Nevertheless, not my will but Your will be done” (Mark 14:36).