“Prayer isn’t about having the perfect words—it’s about bringing your heart to God. Whether it’s a whisper, a cry, or just silence, He’s listening. Start where you are.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 28, 2025
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7
Perhaps you’ve heard someone ask the question, “Why should I even bother to pray when God already knows what I need?” especially since Matthew 6:8 says that our Father is intimately acquainted with what is weighing most heavily on my mind at this very moment.
It is true that Jesus is certainly acquainted with what we need. Even so, He does want us to continue to pray — not in anxiety, not in unbelief, and He definitely doesn’t want us to pray out of hardness of heart because He likes agreement. He likes us to come to Him with open hands and open hearts.
Jesus likes it when His kids have faith in Him. He isn’t saying not to pray. In Matthew 6:7, Jesus instructs the Jews not to pray like the Gentiles, heaping words so God will hear them. He is saying, “I hear you –but praying in unbelief – or not praying at all – will lead you into emotional isolation.”
When you pray with the right heart of faith, your prayers give you freedom that Jesus promises in John 10:10.
It’s important to remember that we are not righteous in Christ even if we are obedient in our prayers. We are righteous because of one man, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:19). Satan cannot touch us when we are in the Lord. We are seated with Christ in the heavens.
In addition to asking for what we need in prayer to connect more intimately to Jesus, there are several other reasons to pray:
Prayer deepens our relationship with God.
Imagine that a child never went to their parents to ask for what they want or need. The parents would never experience the joy of giving the child their heart’s desire, and the child would never experience or know how much they are loved. Intimacy and closeness grow when one asks and another answers.
Prayer aligns our hearts with the Savior’s will.
As we pray and wait on the Lord to answer, trust grows. And if our hearts need to be molded to the Lord’s will, He takes the time to do so for us.
Prayer Is a Way of Humbling Ourselves.
In prayer, we acknowledge that we are not self-sufficient. We express our dependence on God, recognizing that we cannot control everything, and that we need His guidance, provision, and strength. In Philippians 4:6, Paul encourages us to present our requests to God through prayer and supplication, emphasizing that this act of bringing our concerns to God reflects humility and trust.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of coming to You in prayer. Help me to approach You with an honest heart, free of pretense or fear. Teach me to lay down my doubts, struggles, and joys before You without holding back. Guide me to speak truthfully, knowing that You see and love me as I am. May Your Spirit lead me into deeper trust and transparency, that my prayers may be a reflection of my genuine desire to grow closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
Try to see prayer as a conversation with God rather than a formal or intimidating task. Remember that prayer isn’t about saying the “right” words but about showing up with an open heart. Start small, stay consistent, and watch how God meets you in the quiet moments.
Related Reading
Psalm 86; Matthew 6:5-13; Romans 8:25-27
Worship Resource
Matthew West: Don’t Stop Praying
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