Start With Prayer!
"Therefore do not be like the hypocrites.
For your Father knows the things you
have need of before you ask Him."
Matthew 6: 8
We sometimes ponder the purpose and procedures of prayer;
Jesus’ disciples had a learning curve on the subject as well. At
times, Jesus’ instructions might have seemed contradictory.
On one occasion, He told them that God knew what they
were going to ask for before they prayed—which probably
raised a silent question in their mind, “Then why pray?” Then
He immediately taught them how to pray (Matthew 6: 8-13)!
So His point was not, “Don’t pray.” His point was “Don’t pray
long, sanctimonious prayers like religious pagans who use
long prayers as a way to influence ‘god.’” Instead, He taught
them a prayer of just over sixty (English) words.
Jesus’ point was that God hears our hearts, not just our
words. He knows and hears all our prayers, even when
we don’t know exactly how to pray (Romans 8:26-27).
When young Mary received the angel Gabriel’s message,
she likely didn’t know exactly how to pray in response. But
she pondered his words in her heart (Luke 2:19) unspoken
prayers that God heard and answered.
Be assured that God hears and answers
your prayers—even before you pray.
