Matthew 6:7-9
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
I find when I think about the fact that God knows what I need before I ask Him, I go to a wilderness of thinking. I see that as I begin to pray, all my energy wants to still tell God what I need.
So, I’m at these crossroads. Do I believe that God knows already what I need or not? If He does, then I am free to pray as He instructed. Yet, I hear myself saying, “But God, did you know this or that which I need, or I want to express a feeling such as you can’t know, I’m sad, lonely, depressed or need a job, a friend, or to stop doing this or stop doing that. You’re telling me that you already know all these things?”
Think about what God has also told us…
God knows what we need before we ask Him.
God already has a plan for us.
God died for our sins, past, present, and future.
God will never leave us or forget us.
God has prepared a place for us in heaven for all eternity.
God already took care of everything!
God has asked that since He has taken care of all I need that I would do something for Him. He has already given me my gift, so the things He asks me to do is not a matter of performance in order to earn anything, rather it’s a matter of me doing it because I love Him, and I am grateful.
What does He ask?
He asks:
That I love Him with all my heart mind and soul.
To love others.
To forgive others.
To give to and serve others.
To be generous to others.
To be patient with others.
Understanding this, The Lord’s Prayer now makes all the sense in the world. The prayer is not about me or my needs, but rather about God and who He is and to see that God’s will be done on earth.
Matthew 6:9-12
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
God gave us one prayer that captures all of who He is and how we could be with Him. Once I trust that God knows me and what I need, I can focus then on Him and the others around me and throughout the world.
Just a Thought…
