From Calvary Chapel of Roswell

Pastor Jim Suttle

Msg #483                       Wednesday, November 14, 2007

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your Father knows

 the things you have need of

 before you ask Him. (Mt 6:8)

God knows you – perfectly.  He knows everything about who you are, where you are and what you are going through right now – physically, emotionally and spiritually – God knows!

When we pray we are never informing God.  There is never anything that you tell God in prayer, that He does not already understand.  As it says in the above verse:  He knows what you have need of, before you ask.

If God already knows what we need, do we have to ask?  Is prayer important, if God already knows what we need?  Let me answer it simply in one verse:

you do not have because you do not ask. (Jas 4:2)

God has chosen to use and created this access to Him that we call prayer.  He does not need it for information, but He created this as a way to work in our lives.  Simply here in James, God tells us that there are things He would do in our lives, things He would give us that we do not have – because we did not ask. So, yes, we need to pray.  Prayer does work, God does answer prayer.

God’s knowledge, instead of hindering prayer, makes prayer wonderful.  Knowing that God already knows, and fully understands my case – physically, emotionally and spiritually – makes prayer awesome.  It does for me.

Picture it this way.  If you are ill and go to the doctor – he does not know what is wrong with you before you present your case.   The doctors diagnosis of your condition will be based on his observations, skill and your descriptions.  Now, I don’t know if this makes anyone else miserable other than me – but I am always nervous about in this situation.  What if I make too much of a small thing, or too little of a big thing – I could greatly hinder the doctors diagnosis and thus the remedy he prescribes.  Doctors make a good and educated guess on all the information they have…but there knowledge is not perfect – thus they can be wrong.

But the scenario in prayer – is entirely different. God knows perfectly where you are and what you are going through.  As you pray, there can be comfort that even though your descriptions are inadequate and even wrong.  For me, instead of this hindering me from praying  - this helps and invigorates my prayers.  This enables me to find rest and peace in prayer – knowing God’s diagnosis and remedy will always be perfect.

Today, think about this in your prayers….and find peace in talking to God! 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Php 4:6-7)

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Eph 3:20)

Jim

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