Recently I was reminded again of the sheer boldness and brazenness of children.  In fact, I’m reminded of it every time I attend a major league baseball game. 

Before the game starts the youngsters will gather along the edges of the ballfield, especially where they can gain relative proximity to players, and they will beg incessantly and loudly for either autographs or baseballs.  Sometimes both.  “Please!!! Can I get your autograph?”  Or “Please!!! Throw me a ball!”  The more astute ones include players’ names in their cries.  “Please, [insert player name]!!! Please!!! Throw me a ball!

And it’s not just an occasional child or a sporadic request; the cries clamor from the mouths of multiple children at once.  And they are relentless!  Some kids will even beg for baseballs from half of the ball field away.

What’s remarkable is how many players DO toss baseballs to kids.  The responses from the recipients are priceless.  Sheer exultation!  At the game I attended recently, some young teenage gals on the first level were both tossed balls.  The squeals they let out could be heard in the upper deck.

As I have witnessed the bold, loud, incessant requests from children at a ballpark, I have often thought, “That is how we should pray.”  Not necessarily loudly, but certainly boldly and incessantly. Like children begging for baseballs at the ballpark.

Yet, I can’t help but wonder if our prayer life isn’t more like the casual, callous adults sitting around the stadium who make minimal effort to be noticed and often don’t bother to even ask.

It seems children are not only our example for how to believe (Mk. 10:15), but also for how to ask untiringly.  Children at ball games get far more baseballs than adults … not just because they are cute, but because they beg for them!  It’s interesting to note what happened immediately after Jesus made the statement about receiving “the kingdom of God like a little child.”  In the very next verse, Luke writes: “And [Jesus] took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” (Luke 10:16).

Many a Christian can (and will!) recite Jesus words about prayer.  “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).  For many, they see the Savior’s emphasis as being an encouragement to us to pray.  (Actually, it’s more than a encouragement; it’s a command!)  Nevertheless, what many remember are Jesus’ words, “Ask … seek … knock.” 

What we dare not lose sight of are the follow-up statements.  “Ask … and it will be given to you; seek … and you will find; knock … and the door will be opened to you.”  While the initial words are commands, the follow-up statements are promises from the almighty God to answer our prayers! 

If that weren’t enough, Jesus reemphasizes the point in his very next sentence: “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:8).

Try to wrap your mind around this astounding truth: our God … the almighty, transcendent Lord over all things … commands that we bring our requests to him and he promises to answer them!  Jesus stresses this truth elsewhere as well.  He says, “Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 16:23).

Since that’s the case – to borrow the illustration from earlier – why wouldn’t we be jumping up and down with our hands outstretched, pleading loudly and unceasingly, and expecting that the Lord will throw us a ball?

Which is exactly the Holy Spirit’s point, expressed through the Apostle Paul: “In Christ Jesus our Lord and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12).

And here’s an even more astounding truth: even when we don’t know what to say to or request from our Lord … the Holy Spirit translates our words into the correct words!

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27).

Then the very next verse is that well-known and dearly loved one which assures us that in everything – including our prayer requests! – the Heavenly Father is bringing blessings to his children.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28),

Which means that even if the Lord gives a “No” or “Wait” answer to our requests, that answer is the very best answer he can give us.

How incredible is our God.  He created us.  He loves us.  He saved us.  He provides for and protects us.  He listens to us, and he answers us! 

Why wouldn’t we carry on a running conversation with our Heavenly Father?  Why wouldn’t we be begging him “Please!!!” … and why wouldn’t we be telling him “Thank you!!!” over and over again?

Essentially, that is Paul’s encouragement to us: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

It’s great advice.

By the way, at that recent game I attended I stood up and begged for a baseball too.  The starting pitcher for my favorite team threw me one.  Turns out it does indeed pay to ask!