'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — May 15

God has commanded us to pray that we might be prepared to receive from him what he is always ready and willing to confer upon us. Is God our Father? This gives us an abundance of assurance that we shall receive at his hands what we ask. 'Our Father' is the most proper name with which to address our prayers to him. It encourages our faith. It is like a pledge beforehand that our requests shall be heard and granted. If the heart of an earthly parent, whose tender mercies are cruelties in comparison with God, does not allow his children to be defeated in their requests, how much more will God who is love and goodness itself. Our heavenly Father has inspired all parental affections. If God does not give us what we ask, it is not for our good, and we have no reason to complain that we are not heard lest he should turn our prayers into curses. He will not allow his children to return ashamed when they beg of him those things which are most agreeable to his will and to their wants. O Christian, are you sighing under your burdens? Is not God your Father? Go and boldly lay your case before him. His heart will certainly roll and yearn towards you. Is it spiritual blessings you want? Spread your requests before him; as he is your Father, so he is the God of all grace, and will give you of his fullness; for God loves that his children should be like him. Is it temporal mercies that you need? Why, he is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Why go about so dejected and destitute, when you have a Father so able and so willing to relieve you? Only beware that you do not ask for stones instead of bread. Ask for your good, and you will receive it. You can be well content in your present state and condition, for God is your Father equally to you as with the greatest in the world.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Ezekiel Hopkins, Works, I:53-63
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