The result was that he never dared to beg at the king's palace. In refusing to go, he never received anything from the king's wealth, and he insulted the graciousness of the king, who delighted in helping the needy.

Our sinful pride hates to beg, to sincerely reveal our poverty, who we truly are. There are sinners who refuse to beg at the King's door because their tears are not good enough, experiences not sincere enough, repentance not deep enough, love not strong enough, etc. They trust more in their appearance than in God's grace. By not begging, they deprive themselves of God's treasures and insult the graciousness of a God who delights to show mercy and save needy sinners.

Why is one who refuses to beg as he is, not praying sincerely?

"If God knows everything, and all things are in God's decree, of what value is it to pray?" tenth-grade Valerie asked her catechism teacher.

"Valerie, God commands us to pray for our welfare - not His. We need prayer; God does not," her teacher replied. "When we pray daily, it continually teaches and reminds us of our need to confess our sins to God, to ask Him for all our needs, and to be thankful for all His blessings. Prayer is a beautiful means to keep us conscious of, and humble before, God.

"In addition, Valerie, let me ask you a question. If it was in God's plan for you to be seriously ill for two weeks, and after the two weeks you again regained health, what difference would there be if you had seriously prayed for recovery if it was God's will, during your weeks of illness, or if you had not prayed at all?"

"Probably, if I had prayed I would thank God for healing me, and if I had not prayed at all, I might not have thought about God being the One to heal me at all."

"Exactly," her teacher added. "Prayer helps us to see God's hand in all things that take place."

The more a person prays, the less "human coincidences" he experiences, but the more "divine providences" he encounters. Why?