Jesus on several occasions informed his disciples that they would need to approach God in a manner similar to how children behave. He did not mean that they should be childish, but he did mean that they should be childlike, and there is a big difference between those two options.
How do children approach their parents? Children normally come as they are. When asked to come, they don’t go and find their best clothes first and try and give a different impression. God always wants us to come as we are, without trying to dress up in a way that pretends we are different from who we are. We come to him with our fears, our weaknesses, our weariness.
Why is it important to come as we are? Because it helps prevent us from turning into Pharisees who only have changes on the outside. God will see through that veneer into our hearts if we don’t come as we are. When we come as we are, God can deal with our defects and sins; when we pretend they are not there, they will remain there. In prayer, as in much else, honesty is the best policy.
Coming as a child reminds us that true prayer is normally a very simple, straightforward dialogue with God. We can see that is the case from the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Today, let us speak to our Father who wants to hear the real ‘us’ and ask him to work in our lives and to give his blessing to many.
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