PRAYER PROMPT ••• We had a speaker at church yesterday who preached a dynamic sermon on getting back to basics.
He used Romans 12:12 as a primary point (“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”)
I was writing sermon notes as he talked and when he got to the part about praying, he spoke of going to our knees.
However, my pencil and my brain weren’t set at the same speed.
Instead, I wrote, “When prayer takes us to our needs.”
As I quickly erased “needs” to write “knees,” I stopped.
I re-wrote the sentence.
God used that misplaced word to speak to me.
There is nothing we think about that God doesn’t already know (Psalm 139:2).
And since He knows our very thoughts, of course, He knows our prayers.
And since He created us (Psalm 139:13) and knows the number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7), He knows our needs.
Jesus said, in Matthew 6:8b, “your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”
Some may wonder — if God already knows what we think and what we are going to ask, and even what we need, why pray?
Because even though He knows, He still wants us to ask.
And He wants to give us things that are good for us.
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has good plans for us and Jesus affirms that God wants to give us good things in Matthew 7:11, “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
So yes – go to your knees in prayer.
But also be prepared for your prayer to take you to your needs.
Because God will both direct you and provide (Matthew 6:31-32 and Philippians 4:19).
He is eager to do that for you because He loves you.
And from the moment you start praying, things begin to happen (Daniel 10:12).
Today, as you pray, thank God for knowing you inside and out, and knowing your needs before you even ask.
Thank Him for understanding your heart and planning good things for your unique needs.
Praise Him for being a personal God for whom no need is met through a cookie-cutter approach.
One Response
I love that God used a play on words to highlight truth and that you shared it with us! This is an unforgettable post. I’m so grateful that I can give God my needs on my knees! ? Brilliant post, dear Denise! ❤️ And hugs!!