As we read through the Bible, we get a lot of words that describe what God is like. We hear words like "holy" or "just", and some make more sense to us than others. We have a pretty decent idea of how to describe if something is just or not, but we have a harder time describing holy. Some are more believable than others, too. We read that God is kind and loving, though our lives sometimes don't seem to reflect that love and kindness as we face various struggles and trials.
Another description of God is that He knows everything. He is all-knowing, or as the Latin phrase would say, omniscient. God knows what all will happen, what all has happened, and what is happening throughout this world at the current moment. Yes, He even knows what the ants in the hills are doing, and which leaves fell to the ground, and what that droplet of water in the middle of the Indian Ocean is doing. And that also means that He knows what we are thinking at any given moment. He not only sees what we are doing, He peeks into our minds and sees our thoughts.
Which brings up an interesting question. Why do we need to pray, then? If God can see what I'm thinking, if He knows the questions or requests I have in my mind, then why do I need to pray about them, either out loud or in the silence of my mind? It kind of seems unnecessary, in one sense. He already knows. Why do I need to take the time to put my thoughts in order, to to make the formal request of Him?
I suppose there are a great many answers to that question. I know I have read books that talk about the need for prayer. Some say it's for our benefit more than God's, so that we actually know what we are thinking and asking. Some say it's cathartic for us, as though it takes the burden off of us once we have asked. Others say that it's a breathing part of our lives as Christians, that we are living out our Christian faith as we pray. And I know that there are good and valid points to all of these thoughts.
I would go so far as to say that there is an element of all of these in God's command to pray, but that there is also something else at work that perhaps reaches even deeper. It's about growing in our relationship with God as we pray. It's not like God needs to hear our voice or our thoughts in order to respond, though He does take great delight in responding when we do take the time to formalize our prayers in such a way. But God really wants us to have that living, breathing relationship with Him, which is part of the emphasis on prayer. As you talk to someone, you establish relationship with them. And we shouldn't be surprised to learn that the same principle applies in our relationship with God.
So take time to pray today. Do it because you have things you want to ask from God, or to get things off your chest. But do it also because you want to grow and deepen the relationship you have with Him. Talk with God. Sure, sometimes our prayers are lighter and don't have too much substance, and at other times, they are very weighty. The thing is, God dearly loves that we establish that relationship with Him as our dearly loved Father, just as He assures us that He is our dear Father who loves His dear children.
Another description of God is that He knows everything. He is all-knowing, or as the Latin phrase would say, omniscient. God knows what all will happen, what all has happened, and what is happening throughout this world at the current moment. Yes, He even knows what the ants in the hills are doing, and which leaves fell to the ground, and what that droplet of water in the middle of the Indian Ocean is doing. And that also means that He knows what we are thinking at any given moment. He not only sees what we are doing, He peeks into our minds and sees our thoughts.
Which brings up an interesting question. Why do we need to pray, then? If God can see what I'm thinking, if He knows the questions or requests I have in my mind, then why do I need to pray about them, either out loud or in the silence of my mind? It kind of seems unnecessary, in one sense. He already knows. Why do I need to take the time to put my thoughts in order, to to make the formal request of Him?
I suppose there are a great many answers to that question. I know I have read books that talk about the need for prayer. Some say it's for our benefit more than God's, so that we actually know what we are thinking and asking. Some say it's cathartic for us, as though it takes the burden off of us once we have asked. Others say that it's a breathing part of our lives as Christians, that we are living out our Christian faith as we pray. And I know that there are good and valid points to all of these thoughts.
I would go so far as to say that there is an element of all of these in God's command to pray, but that there is also something else at work that perhaps reaches even deeper. It's about growing in our relationship with God as we pray. It's not like God needs to hear our voice or our thoughts in order to respond, though He does take great delight in responding when we do take the time to formalize our prayers in such a way. But God really wants us to have that living, breathing relationship with Him, which is part of the emphasis on prayer. As you talk to someone, you establish relationship with them. And we shouldn't be surprised to learn that the same principle applies in our relationship with God.
So take time to pray today. Do it because you have things you want to ask from God, or to get things off your chest. But do it also because you want to grow and deepen the relationship you have with Him. Talk with God. Sure, sometimes our prayers are lighter and don't have too much substance, and at other times, they are very weighty. The thing is, God dearly loves that we establish that relationship with Him as our dearly loved Father, just as He assures us that He is our dear Father who loves His dear children.
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