The posture of a godly heart begins and ends in prayer. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead opened the door for any person to have undistracted communion with God. When you talk to God, He hears you. As the disciples were learning from the Teacher, one of them asked Jesus to teach them how to pray in Luke 11:1-13.
Jesus was happy to oblige. He loves it when His followers want to dive deeper into knowing Him and His ways more intimately.
Jesus showed them five traits of a sincere prayer that flows from a godly heart. It begins with respect to the Father. “May Your name be kept holy.”2 Your life begins and ends with God, and everything in between. There is no neutral area in your life where God does not have His hand upon you. Your life should reflect that. There should not be areas of your life that are independent of God.
Next, acknowledge that His Kingdom is coming soon. Jesus is returning to restore what the enemy has lost. This helps you to remember that you are not home yet. Keep looking up at God for He will lead you out of this wayward world.
Third, “give us each day the food we need.”3 A key component to a godly heart is thankfulness. God is the provider of all good things. There truly isn’t much we need on a daily basis. Any extras should be wrapped in gratefulness. God is a good good Father.
Fourth, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”4 God is gracious and merciful to forgive sin. None of us deserve such an amazing gift but God gives it out freely to those who follow His Son. How Jesus loves you and I, we are to do the same to those around us.
Finally, “don’t let us yield to temptation.”4 This world is full of distractions, and the enemy is out to keep anyone and everyone from following Jesus. The posture of a godly heart keeps this in the forefront of one’s mind each and every day.
Jesus continues on with sharing a story of a person needing some bread for a friend who was staying with them. They go at midnight to another friend’s home asking for some food. Your sleepy friend would tell you to stop bothering him and his family at such an hour. “But if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.”8
Jesus teaches six traits that flow from a godly heart. Persistence is the key that aids in God responding to you. Notice the bolded statement from verse 8, God is open to give you what you need. This is different than what you desire or expect. The disciples learned that if they keep asking they will receive what they asked for. If they keep seeking, they will find. God is amazing at giving you clarity and understanding on things that you question and ponder. Keep knocking and the door will be opened. God does not shut Himself away from those who sincerely want to know Him.
“For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.”10
Jesus ends their lesson on prayer asking fathers how they give good gifts to their children. He let them know that in their sinful state, they give good things to their offspring. “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”13 Jesus was wanting them, and you and I, to know that God hears our prayers. He hears our hearts when we can’t even put into words what we are needing.
What is the one thing that He gives every believer with a godly heart that makes all the difference in the world; see verse 13? This is the key to unlocking the mystery of walking by faith, moment-by-moment, on a daily basis. One cannot have intimate communion with God without the Spirit. Many try, but they lose their focus, get bored, and they turn from His presence looking for something more interesting.
The posture of a godly heart is one that is connected to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. It’s a posture of openness and vulnerability where you know that God loves you despite all your shortcomings and wrong choices. He becomes your safe place. The disciples were safe with Jesus, and you are too.
Carol J German 