Moving Our Father’s Heart

My son is at a stage where he wants to wrestle with me. It’s playful, but it’s a test of his strength. He wants to show me how strong he is and see if he can win. Fortunately, at this stage, no matter how hard he tries, he is not able to!

Sometimes we treat prayer that way. We come to the Father and try to wrestle for what we want or prove ourselves as capable equals. It may stem from a desire for something or discontent with reality. Restlessness can lead to wrestling and turn into spiritual striving when we push our way and don't trust God’s.

Our religious wrestling doesn’t impress God. Like with Jacob, God can “touch our hip” at any moment. Our challenge as children is to trust that the Father is in control and he alone knows what is best. Yet, God does engage our wrestling hearts. He is a God who listens and responds. We see this with Abraham interceding for Sodom, Job seeking answers to suffering, and Moses wanting to see God’s glory.

The point is this. We do not have the power to force our Father to move, but we can move our Father’s heart. This happens in prayer when we come in humility, respect, according to God’s desires. That is the posture and purpose of authentic prayer.

How? Jesus wanted his disciples to talk directly to the Father. He said, “I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you have my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy” (John 16:23-24). As for the substance (what we ask for), Jesus revealed that next when he prayed, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you” (John 17:1).

God’s desire is to be seen, magnified, and known. While we do not have any wrestling strength on our own, when we pray with child-like faith and align with our Father’s will, we can move the Father’s heart!