“… For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matt. 6:8, NASB).

“If He already knows what we need, why do we pray?” This question came to my mind while reading this familiar passage and was answered in my heart by what follows.

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven’” (Matt. 6:9-10).

One thing I have learned being a student of the Word and working among different cultures is that context is very important to understanding. Recently, the Lord reminded me again of the importance of the context of my conversation with Him. He is my Father. When I truly come to understand with whom I am speaking, it changes the way that I pray. He is above all, knows me as His child, and is attentive to what I need—and He is good.

This understanding sets me free to pray in the way that Jesus showed us, which is not only about making our petitions known—because they already are—but also about aligning ourselves with Him so that His kingdom comes, and His will is done, in and through our lives.

Let’s pray, then, in this way!

Prayer + Reflection

  1. Ask God to help you to truly understand what it means to know Him as our heavenly Father.
  2. Pray: “Father, may Your name be honored as we and others see You for who You are.”
  3. Let’s submit to God’s will: “Lord, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, in and through our lives.”
  4. Lift up Foursquare workers in the MENACA region (Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia), and contend for fresh vision and a huge harvest there.

Share your thoughts. See comments below, and add your own.

(name withheld) is a Foursquare worker serving in Europe and the MENACA region.
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