Treating Others and My Prayer Life

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
(Matthew 7:7-12)

Just before this passage on prayer are six verses that deal with judging others.  This passage ends with what some call the golden rule, “treat people the same way you want them to treat you”.  It should be hard for us to NOT notice that prayer to God is to happen in the context of our relationships on earth.  I think it is in Ephesians that we are instructed that the relationship between a man and his wife effect his prayer life.  I know that to be true.

If we desire to see more answers to prayer, pay heed to your relationship on the earth.  God often treats us like we treat others.  The measure we used, is used for ourselves.  This may not just be an “end time” reality, but a reality for today.  The condition of my heart and actions toward others may be the very thing that is keeping me from the presence and blessing of the Lord. 

I encourage us all to have one standard of life.  Don’t have one set of character traits for bad people and another for good people.  Don’t have one level of love for church and another for family life.  Be whole and let everyone encounter the you who you are.  Don’t give according to the person, but be a person who is the same in all conditions of life.  Let the peace, love, joy and kindness of God flow out of you regardless of the circumstances.  This will protect your heart from false judgment and make life a lot simpler for you as you do not need to “figure out” how to deal with each situation.  We all have people we love “more” and those we love “less”.  But regardless of how you feel, allow the light and life of God to flow from you in the same measure to all.  It will be a blessing to you in the end.