Abraham Lincoln once said: “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.”

Most of us have critical moments when we feel the need for special help from God. Jesus explains that the reason for the power in prayer is that God is our Father. Jesus encourages us to ask God because He is our “abba.” Jeremiah points out that “Abba was an everyday word, a homely family word. Jesus used it always . . . and authorizes His disciples to repeat the word Abba after him.”

God’s promises are not unconditional in reference to prayer. Prayer is not an “open sesame” to every closed door. But God as our loving Father will give us everything we truly need(Philippians 4:19). As Tennyson wrote: “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”

I know that God answers prayer. I have seen Him answer prayers for our handicapped daughter. I have seen Him answer prayers for my college-age daughters. You can count on God to hear you: this is the testimony of millions of people who have experienced the impeccable track record of our Father.