Why pray, when God knows everything?

359 why pray when god knows everything"When praying you shouldn't string together empty words like the heathen who don't know God. They think that they will be heard if they say many words. Don't do it like them, because your father knows what you need, and he does before you ask him "(Matthew 6,7-8 New Geneva translation).

Someone once asked: "Why should I pray to God when He knows everything?" Jesus made the above statement as an introduction to the Our Father. God knows everything. His spirit is everywhere. If we keep asking things of God, it doesn't mean He should listen better. Prayer is not about getting God's attention. We already have his attention. Our father knows everything about us. Christ says he knows our thoughts, needs, and desires.

So why pray? As a father, I want my children to tell me when they discover something for the first time, even though I already know all the details. I want my children to tell me when they are happy about something, even though I can see their excitement. I want to share in your dream of life, even if I can guess what it will be. As a human father, I am just a shadow of the reality of God the Father. How much more would God like to share in our ideas and hopes!

Have you heard of the man who asked a Christian friend why she was praying? Supposedly your God knows the truth and possibly all the details? The Christian replied: Yes, he knows her. But he is unfamiliar with my version of the truth and my view of the details. God wants to know our opinions and our views. He wants to participate in our lives and prayer is part of that participation.

by James Henderson