WHY PRAY?!?!?!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

-- Philippians 4:6

God is omniscient. In other words, he knows everything. There is nothing you or I can do, think or say that he is not aware of.

But do you ever wonder why God wants us to bring everything before him in prayer; why he wants us to ask for those things we need? After all, if God already knows what we need, why doesn't he just provide those things for us?

The answer, when we really think about it, is simple.

Yes, God knows all of our needs—emotional, relational, physical and spiritual. But he also knows that if we don't bring those needs before him, we may begin to believe that we are self-sufficient. If we don't bring our requests before God on a regular basis, we may forget the source of all we have been given.

When you have a need, don't forget to bring it before God "with thanksgiving." Be thankful that God has provided a way for you to communicate with him. Use prayer the way it was meant to be used—as a lifeline between you and your Provider. Because when you "present your requests to God," you will begin to realize the power that he truly has to give you what you need.



A Prayer for Today

Dear God, I know that everything I have comes from you. You are the source of all I need to live. I pray that I continue to acknowledge that fact by bringing my requests to you. Help me to rely solely on you and not on my own abilities and strengths. And help me to recognize my reliance on you so I can discover the life that you want me to live.

In Christ's name I pray, Amen.