Lakeland Seventh-day Adventist Church

Doesn't God already know what I need? Why do I have to ask?

Jesus said in Matthew 6:8, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him,” so this seems to be a very good question. Let's see if He has left clues to an answer for us.

Since the tree of knowledge, God has been in the business of protecting your freedom of choice, Genesis 2:16-17. After all, He knew what Eve needed to choose at the tree, but allowed her to choose for herself. He still allows us to choose. He could have taken that right from Eve, and He could take it from us as well.

Sometimes we wish He would! But imagine inviting me to your house to help rearrange your furniture in your living room. You might like what I do there, but what if I move to your bedroom and begin tossing whatever doesn't suit my tastes? How long will it be before you toss me? God doesn't come in and “take over,” helping in places we don't want Him messing with.

In a similar way, Eve had the choice to eat, but she had another choice we sometimes forget. She could have chosen to ask God what He thought of the serpent's suggestions. She could have asked Him to help her. We have that same ability to ask, but like His patience with Eve, God will not force Himself on us. We must give Him permission to work in our lives. Prayer makes it clear that God is in our lives because we want Him there.

The question has never been whether God knew what you needed. He pledged Jesus to this world before the world began. And since sin entered, He has been telling us that He Himself is what we need. The question is, do we know what we need? In the best kind of self-discovery, we pray so that we know how vital God is in each part of our lives.