““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.” Matthew 6:7-8 ESV
God looks at the heart, discerns the heart, and knows what lingers within man’s heart before he is born.
God knows what we will know before we are to know it. God foresees all, foreknows all, and is the only One with such power and ability.
“Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether” (Psalm 139:4 ESV). God knows what we will know before we are to know it. God foresees all, foreknows all, and is the only One with such power and ability. With this in mind, we must never forget that God knows what we need before we ask.
God knows more about us than we do ourselves.
God understands the pains, sufferings, trials, and temptations we are to endure through this life. He knows our financial, relational, and identity crises. He knows the battle and struggles we will have throughout this life. He is the One Who knows more about us than we do ourselves.
Since God is Omniscient (knowing all things), He also possesses the power to do all things.
Since God is Omniscient (knowing all things), He also possesses the power to do all things. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16 NKJV). God created all things out of nothing. God knew us before we were born. “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13 NKJV).
God is the One Who knows exactly what we need before we ask - the question is, are we willing to diligently ask?
Some people give up after one request is made to God, and He does not answer. Others make their demands out of wrong intentions. Some ask God for a little while until they give up and try and make ends meet on their terms.
It is tough to trust in God when we are not growing in God. If we never learn more about Him, we will never grow in our faith.
God wants people of faith who believe in Him and His promises. It is tough to trust in God when we are not growing in God. If we never learn more about Him, we will never grow in our faith. We will begin to question God, and we will be much more prone to falling into self-deception.
Not taking time each day to remain disciplined (despite how we feel) in the spiritual disciplines of growing in God will hinder our walk and God’s hand moving in our life.
Not taking time each day to remain disciplined (despite how we feel) in the spiritual disciplines of growing in God will hinder our walk and God’s hand moving in our life. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).
God rewards those who diligently seek after Him. God’s Word tells us, “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” (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).
When we pray to God, we may not get the answer right away, but we will get the answer in God’s Way. We may have to wait a long time, but our waiting will not be in vain.
We may not get the answer right away, but we will get the answer in God’s Way. We may have to wait a long time, but our waiting will not be in vain. “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25 ESV). “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 ESV).
The moment we pray, God begins to answer. He gives us the strength and patience to persevere and wait. He tests our faith by allowing the wait to mold us and shape us more into the image of Christ.
When we make requests to God, He will always answer according to His Will when we are born again. This answer is always better than the request if our appeal does not match His Will. The moment we pray, God begins to answer. He gives us the strength and patience to persevere and wait. He tests our faith by allowing the wait to mold us and shape us more into the image of Christ.
If we never had to wait, we would never be grateful to God.
If we never had to wait, we would never be grateful to God. We would never see God as faithful if we always got everything immediately. Sure, we would enjoy believing that we would, but we would not see God as God. We would see God as a means to our end, not God as Thee Ultimate End.
Understanding that our request made known to God does not have to be long and eloquent gives us the understanding that we truly can speak to God at any time.
Understanding that our request made known to God does not have to be long and eloquent gives us the understanding that we truly can speak to God at any time. We can talk to Him about our concerns and what we need. The moment we pray and communicate our heart’s desire, however, is the moment when we must immediately understand that we will have to wait.
God sometimes acts immediately based on the specific prayer, but many times He waits. He orchestrates everything to be at the appropriate time. For God fulfills His Ultimate End by working through contingent means – not only in our lives but in the lives of those around us and the world.
May we learn to trust God with child-like faith. We need not fret or worry. God knows our situation. He sees our external state and knows how we are feeling internally. He is working all things out for the greater good (Genesis 50:20). We need to ask God with a pure heart to simply trust Him and be willing to wait.
This is the way of seeing God’s Hand move mightily within our life. God knows what we need before we even ask.
The more we know of God, the more we will be at peace.
May we continue to grow in understanding God – His Nature, His Being, and His Attributes. The more we know of God, the more we will be at peace. For Great and Mighty is He, Who inhabits and rules eternity.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, God over all things, Who created and sustains us moment by moment, blessed be Thy Holy Name. O God, may You touch us with supernatural peace and trust in You. Comfort us in our difficult times; grow us in our trying times; reveal Thy Power and answer to Your promises in Your time. God, we rely on You as our Daily Bread and Living Water. Draw us to Your Word. May we draw nigh to You each day. Fill us, O Holy Spirit, with Your Light, Truth, and Love. May we not see as man sees, but may we see as God sees. Make Thy Will and Wisdom known to us, that we may endure and complete what You have for us. We put our trust in You, Lord Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lance VanTine