Your Father Knows the Things You Have Need of Before You Ask Him

Daily Devotional – Wednesday, December 22, 2021

For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Matthew 6:8 (NKJV)

“For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” This was one of the most comforting thoughts when I was hospitalized for close to three weeks with COVID-19. Between dealing with pain and ebbing in and out of prayer, I rarely prayed the usual way.

In narrated my experience in a previous devotional (When Your Life Depends on the Prayers of Others). In the current article, I look into where God stands when I cannot muster the language to present my requests and concerns.

Loss of Words Before I Ask of My Father

Countless times, I have knelt before God and realized no words were coming from my mouth. These are especially moments when I have prayed about an issue so many times yet God seems to ignore my pleas.

These awkward moments are replete with agony and, sometimes, regret. Perhaps I have failed God yet another time and I have no explanation. All I can ask for is God’s forgiveness and restoration. I claim one of His promises and leave the rest to Him.

Your Father knows What You Need of before you ask

Jesus addressed the issue of the length of our prayers in the preamble to the famous Lord’s Prayer. Here is an excerpt: “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7).

I have felt many times like the heathen described here. I take as much time as possible to narrate to God all my anxieties and concerns. The following day, I am back to the routine. I emphasize yesterday’s requests.

With time and experience, though, I realize that it is not the content of prayer and the length of it that matters. Prayer is not about me revealing to God what He does not know. Is my Heavenly Father not omniscient?

To quote Jesus, “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8). All God wants is a personal and active relationship with me.  He knows when and how to meet my needs.

For we do not know what we should pray for

Now I know that prayer is about listening to God as much as it is about presenting my requests to Him. When I know and acknowledge His sovereignty over my life and His immense love, I will engage more in praising and worshipping God than in petitioning Him.

In fact, I don’t even know how to pray, as Paul says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26).

Our Father Knows Our Petitions Beforehand

That said, God loves to hear our petitions as Paul taught, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6).

However, if we started our prayers with the belief that our Father knows the things we need before we ask Him, would our attitudes be the same as now? What changes will you make in your prayer life today in light of our key text for today?

Omniscient Father, thank You because you know the things I need before I ask you.