We try not to take our kids along when we go grocery shopping.

You probably know why?

We walk in the door of the grocery store, the first department you come to is the Fruits and Vegetables. They don't say much then. But we turn the corner, and we are in the ice cream section. "Can we get Klondike bars? Everyone in my class has Klondike bars in their freezer except us?" "No. Garbage. Expensive garbage." "How about pizza rolls? You had those when you were a kid. How about pizza rolls?" "No."

Then there is quiet for awhile, until, "Dad, here is one of those folders I need for school. It has a horse on the front. I only have plain blue. Everyone else has the folder with the horse. Can I get it?" "OK. Throw it in."

As we're driving home, I ask, "Why do you guys ask for so much?" "

"Because it works, Dad. We didn't expect anything, and now we have chips, a folder, and a CD."

I've noticed that we are persistent, even pushy, with people we are close to. Because people who are close to us tolerate our pushiness, our persistence.

We find this attitude in the Old Testament lesson for today. There is a close relationship between The Lord and Abraham. Out of the special, close relationship, Abraham felt the freedom to be persistent, even pushy, in his prayers, in his requests to God.

The Lord has told Abraham that He is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, so despicable was their actions. Perhaps Abraham knew that the towns deserved to be destroyed, but Abraham also knew that these towns were filled with real people.

To us, Sodom means nothing except the name is now synonymous with sin. But to Abraham, it meant a town filled with real people, craftsmen, parents, children, houses, gardens. Abraham's relative, Lot, lived there. Abraham felt horrified by what might happen. I think at times, television has desensitized us to the tragedies and horrors of the real world. But Abraham further understood that to wipe out a town meant to wipe out all hope. And so he approaches the Lord with his request. He is persistent, almost pushy, in his requests to spare Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of 50 righteous, or 45 righteous, 40, 30, 20, 10 righteous.

Why don't we Americans follow Abraham's example concerning prayer? Many American Christians don't like to pray. American Christian's knock on God's Door once a day (!). Whereas, Jesus teaches us to knock long and often(!!!!!). There is an enormous contrast between what Jesus says about prayer(!!!!!) and how Americans actually pray (!). I wonder why.

First, Americans are too busy. Through research, they have found that American Christians pray about 4 minutes per day, mainly at meals. Pastors are no better. American pastors average 7 minutes per day in prayer. Every person, in every career field, is busy. I have only heard a couple of people say, I am not busy. Life is boring.

Another reason why Americans don't pray,pray,pray,pray,pray is many American don't believe that prayer does any good. That springs from an unwillingness to submit to God's will. When some Americans pray, and God gives the answer "no" they give up. They are not persistent.

Way back in the 1800s scientists tried to prove that there is no power in prayer. They had all of the churches in London pray for the patients in Wing A of the local hospital, but they told these churches in London NOT TO PRAY for any patients in Wing B of the same hospital. And sure enough, the healing rate was about the same for either wing. Scientific conclusion: prayer does no good.

But keep in mind God answers prayer in a variety of ways, sometimes in surprising ways. Even in our story, even after Abraham's request God didn't spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, but He did answer Abraham's prayer. We visit that later!

Another reason why Americans don't pray!pray!pray!pray!pray! is that many of them do not understand what it means to have a close relationship -- with God or with another human being. In order to have any kind of close relationship, people have to communicate, they have to spend time together. In order to have a close relationship with the Lord, people need to spend time with Him -- in the Word, in worship, in prayer. And until things go badly, as long as things in their lives go well, people often avoid the good Lord. They don't pray.

Father Abraham is our prayer teacher today.

First, I want you to notice that Abraham knew what kind of God we have. He is a just God. And He is a gracious and merciful God. How well Abraham knew that our God is a gracious God. God had promised Abraham that he would have a son in his old age within a year…and within year, Isaac was born.

Abraham knew the Lord to be a forgiving God. God had forgiven Abraham so much in his past, and God forgives us as well.

Abraham knew that our God is a patient God. God never loses His patience with Abraham. He never stops Abraham from praying. God never stops Abraham from asking.

I'd like you to notice that Abraham was very honest in his prayers to God. "Will you really sweep it away and not spare the city for 50 righteous people in it?"

We can be honest with God in our prayers. If you don't understand why certain events have occurred, tell Him. If you wonder, "why me?" ask Him. There are times when all of us say, "Lord, I'm not even sure how to pray, or what to pray for." God welcomes our honesty.

Abraham prays very specifically. "If there are 50 righteous, will you spare the city?" He continues, "If there are 45? 40? 30? 20?" He pleads until he is asking for the city to be spared for 10 believers. Only 10. 10 just happens to be the number of people in Lot's family.

Abraham's prayer was effective, but not answered in the way that he expected. Abraham expected that the only way that God could answer his prayer was that the cities be saved. But God answered the prayer in a different way. God removed Lot and his family from the town, and then destroyed the city.

God answers our prayers in different ways. Sometimes we pray for healing, and it comes. Other times, we pray for healing, and the Lord gives our loved one peace in the midst of challenge, and allows the person to focus upon spiritual healing through the forgiveness of sins and life eternal that are ours as God's children.

Whenever you pray, first and foremost focus upon what kind of God you are talking to. You have a gracious God who has saved you from your sin. He sent His only-begotten Son into the world to be Your Savior.

Our sinful world is really not very different from Sodom and Gomorrah in the Old Testament. Someday, this sinful world will likewise be destroyed. But before God destroys this world, He has made arrangement for Your deliverance.

He sent Jesus to the rescue. That is what happened on the cross. Jesus paid for your sin. And Jesus' death and resurrection assures us that (like Lot and his family ) we will be delivered and enjoy eternity in heaven with Jesus and with all who believe. We will be spared the hellish destruction and the sinful world that rejects God will receive.

This same gracious God is your Heavenly Father. He invites you to ask, seek, knock in prayer with all of your needs and concerns. Like a loving Father, He will always give You what is best, according to His will. You can approach Him with confidence. You know it because of the cross. You know that your God is loving. Jesus proves it.

So, Pray! Pray! Pray! Pray! Pray! You'll be amazed at how God always provides!