Prayer (Communication)

Matthew 6: 7-10

“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. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done…”

I think it is important to be specific with our prayers. Yes, God knows what we are going to ask for and He knows what we need but He still wants us to ask. I have had many people ask me, “If God knows what we are going to ask for, and He knows what we need, why doesn’t He just provide what we need?”

Prayer is relational. There are several passages relating to Jesus taking time to pray. Why would Jesus take time alone to pray to the Father, doesn’t He already know what the Father wants? Yes of course He does, but Jesus takes time to communicate with the Father, that’s what people do in a relationship, they communicate.

It should be no different with us praying to the Father. We take time to communicate, we talk He listens, He talks we listen. Jesus said, since the Father already knows what we need before we ask, pray this way. “Our Father,” (acknowledging our relationship with God). “Hallowed be Thy name” (praise glory and honor to the Father). “Your kingdom come, Your will be done…” (God’s perfect will be done in us no matter what we feel. We want His perfect will because His will always blesses us and honors Him).

In Gethsemane before Jesus’ arrest He prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup (this time of great suffering) pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” In this situation, God’s perfect will led Jesus to suffer, but ultimately gave His Son the victory and power over everything in heaven and on earth.

We do not always get what we want, but we always get what we need when we ask for His will in our lives.

Prayer:

Father, not my will but Your will be done in me and through me so that You receive all the glory and honor. I know You always have my best interest at heart, I know You always supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). In Jesus name I pray, Amen!