Episode #394 Why Bother Telling God What He Already Knows? – The Lord’s Prayer for Real Life

Hey, friend. Welcome to this episode of Good God Talks. We're gonna be talking with God using the Lord's Prayer today, and taking another look at some misunderstandings or misconceptions that we might have about the Lord's Prayer. And the first one is one that I struggled with for a really long time. I thought the Lord's Prayer was something Jesus gave us to pray, but He actually didn't give it to us for that reason.

I'm gonna read from Matthew 6 for us, starting right now with a little bit from verse 9. It says, "This then is how you should pray." When Jesus is teaching the disciples, He's giving them a context for HOW to approach God in prayer. Now, I grew up in the church, so I memorized the Lord's Prayer at an early age, not fully understanding what all of the words meant, like hallowed, but also not understanding that it was to inform my awareness of how to come to God. And so that's how we're using it to talk with God today.

But I wanna back up first a few verses, starting in verse seven. This is still Jesus teaching, and He says, "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

Now, there's a lot there. I kinda used to be a babbler in prayer, and I think it's insightful that Jesus gives a reason for the many words, they think they will be heard because of their many words. I have felt that in past seasons of my walk with God, thinking that if I have more words or more eloquent words or more spiritual words, that God would be more inclined to hear me. But God is already inclined to hear us.And it tells us why, because He's our Father.  You don't have to be like them. You don't have to put on a show or a performance because your Father already knows what you need before you ask.

Which reminds me of something else that I used to not understand. Why pray? Why pray if God already knows what we need? Prayer is not about giving God information. It's about bringing our real selves to Him in relationship. And relationship grows through healthy communication and shared experiences. And so in this moment today, God already knows what happened in your life. He already knows what you need. He knows what you're afraid of or nervous about. And He's inviting you to share it with Him anyway. He's not looking for polished words or to glean information from you. He's looking to engage with you in relationship, and that includes conversation.

God knowing what you need is not a reason to stay quiet. It's a reason to feel safe. And so we can come to Him because He is our good Father.

And this is how the Lord's Prayer begins, going back to verse nine: “This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name."

How we approach God is coming, recognizing who He is, that He's holy. He's set apart. There's no one like Him. He is in heaven and on earth with us, and He is our good Father and longs for us to come to connect with Him. Not to perform for Him, not to share information, but to respond to Him out of relationship.

And so here's a question that you can take to God:

God, what's something you'd love for me to talk with you about today?

And then share it with Him.

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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