When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:7-8 NET
God knows what I need before I ask him. So why should I pray? If God already knows what I need, why does he not just give it to me? What does my asking accomplish?
Imagine what it would be like if God were to meet all your needs without being asked. How likely would you be to recognize that God was providing for you? It would be easy to take his provision for granted, not even considering how the need was met. Or even taking credit for it yourself.
Asking God for his help, even though he already knows what I need, will do a couple of things. It will help me to recognize my need for him. And as I see his provision, I will learn to trust him more, knowing that my loving heavenly Father will provide me with what I need (Matt. 7:11).
But what if I don’t ask? Will he let my needs go unmet? Maybe. God sends sunshine and rain on the godly and the ungodly alike without being asked (Matt. 5:45). But sometimes my needs may go unmet because I failed to ask or asked inappropriately (Jam. 4:2-3).
But there is another aspect to God knowing what I need before I ask. I don’t need to beg or try to convince him of what I need. I do not need to have all the right words and pray a certain way. My prayers, no matter how long and eloquent they are, do not impress God. A simple request is all I need to make: “Give us today our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11).
