“Humingi kayo at kayo’y bibigyan; humanap kayo at kayo’y makakatagpo; kumatok kayo at kayo’y pagbubuksan.”

Mateo 7:7

“The Lord’s Prayer is really a total prayer,” ayon kay Helmut Thielicke. Sa kanyang librong The Prayer that Spans the World, sinabi ni Thielicke na walang makakapagsabing iniwan siyang “empty-handed” ng panalanging ito o di kaya’y binalewala nito ang needs niya.

As Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer, He also told the disciples how they should pray. Amazingly, simple lang ang tinuro Niya: Humingi, Humanap, Kumatok. Dinagdag pa Niya na, “Sapagkat ang bawat humihingi ay tatanggap; ang bawat humahanap ay makakatagpo; at ang bawat kumakatok ay pagbubuksan” (Mateo 7:8). Napaka-practical ng reasoning Niya. Kung ang earthly fathers daw natin who are “evil” (verse 11) know how to give good gifts to their children, ang Diyos Ama pa kaya? Ibig sabihin, God will not withhold whatever is good for us.

However, kailangan nating tingnan ang sinabi ni Jesus in the context of the Lord’s Prayer. Hindi ito promise na lahat ng luhong gusto natin ay ibibigay ng Diyos o lahat ng pinapangarap nating swerte ay matutupad. Hindi natin pwedeng gawing genie ang Diyos.

God will grant our requests that advance the work of His Kingdom. Do we pray for peace in our communities, justice for the poor, good leaders for our country? Sasagutin Niya ang prayers natin that are aligned to His will. Do we ask for the salvation of our loved ones? Ipinapag-pray ba natin na matigil na ang corruption sa gobyerno? Do we pray na maagapan ng mga bansa ang global warming? Bubuksan Niya ang mga pintong hindi natin inakalang mabubuksan. Do we pray for open doors for the Gospel among the unreached people groups?

As we seek God’s Kingdom when we pray, we can also entrust our needs to Him in prayer. Ibibigay Niya lahat ng kailangan natin to accomplish His work on earth. At dahil mabuti ang Diyos, He always delights in blessing His children.