Devotions with Pastor Michael De Haan

When you pray, don’t pour out a flood of empty words, as the Gentiles do. They think that by saying many words they’ll be heard. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask. (Matt. 6:7–8)

When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, one of the key concepts Jesus wanted them to know was that what you pray is far less important than if you pray. What Jesus wanted his followers to understand was that you don’t need to pray with a lot of words, or to pray the “right” words. In fact, what Jesus describes kind of pulls the rug out from under you. The reason you don’t need to go on and on is because your Heavenly Father already knows what you need even before you ask.

So why pray? Why should we ask if God already knows what we need? Have you ever wondered that? That’s a natural question. And I think Jesus wants his followers to ask that question. It’s right where he wants them to be when they come to that point in their prayer journeys.

But there’s another question you need to wrestle with. Shouldn’t God already know our needs? If God is truly God, shouldn’t he already know our needs? In other words, if you have to inform God of your needs, is he really God?

So, if you’ve ever struggled with knowing what to pray, or trying to come up with the “right” words, don’t worry. God already knows what’s on your heart and mind. Because that’s the amazing thing about this God we serve. He’s God! He’s all-knowing. And we get to talk to him like he’s our Heavenly Father. So take some time today and have a conversation with your Heavenly Father.

-Pastor Michael