The Bible tells us that God knows what we need before we ever ask. Indicating that we may not need to always ask God to do things in our life because He already knows exactly what we need. Is this really the case or does God actually prefer us to make our requests known to Him?
Matthew 6:8 (ESV)
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:32 (ESV)
32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
I recently heard this concept discussed on a podcast and they took things to the extreme. Let’s just say I won’t be listening to this podcast again. The hosts ultimately said we have no reason to ask God for anything in prayer. Insisting on just time spent in a form of meditation with the Lord. While I completely agree with the need for Christian meditation as laid out in scripture. Christians must not discount the vast number of verses that instruct us to make our requests known to God.
Philippians 4:6 (ESV)
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Matthew 7:7 (ESV)
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 21:22 (ESV)
22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
James 1:5 (ESV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
1 John 3:22 (ESV)
22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
1 John 5:14-15 (ESV)
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
The Lord wants us to tell Him what we need even though He already knows. Which sounds odd on the surface. But when you take time to think about it the reasoning actually becomes very clear. There’s a lot being said in our prayers whether actually speak the words or not. By asking God to do things in our life whatever it may be. We are saying that we cannot do it on our own. That we need God in our life.
When we don’t ask the Lord for help it most often means we are trying to do everything ourselves. Which you will quickly discover never works out as you expect it to. Instead, we should rely solely on God and not on our own abilities. Then things will work out for the better in our lives.
Jeremiah 17:5-9 (ESV)
5 Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
and makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 He is like a shrub in the desert,
and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
in an uninhabited salt land.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
Yet, the question remains do you have to ask God for all your needs? Honestly like in most areas of our faith we must find the balance. There is no need to spend hours in prayer asking for every little thing that you need to live. Such as water to drink or oxygen to breath. God created you with certain needs and will provide for those needs.
At the same time, we must choose not to pray because we know God is already aware of our individual needs. Because God is called our Heavenly Father for a reason. He wants to reach in and help us in every situation we encounter. But God being the gentleman He is will not insert Himself at every turn in your life without being asked. And as previously discussed prayer keeps you in the proper state of reliance on the Lord. Keeping you from believing you have done everything on your own.
So turn to God and ask Him for whatever you may need. Just as we are instructed to do through scripture and you know what just spend some time talking with your Heavenly Father. If you would like to support us then we ask that you please share this article on social media. We want the whole world to know the truth of Scripture. But we can not do it on our own and require the help of readers like you. Thanks so much and God Bless!
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