Words of Grace – Oct. 12, 2016

Before the Lord Jesus taught the twelve disciples how to pray, he first taught them how not to pray.  They were not to pray like the hypocrites, who prayed in public because they wanted to be seen by others.  (Matthew 6:5)

They were also not to pray like the heathen prayed.  They used vain repetitions in their prayers, repeating the same words over and over.  They thought that they would be heard because of their many words.  (v.7)

“Be not therefore like them,” Jesus said, “for your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask him” (v.8).  This is what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

Because our heavenly Father knows us so well, he knows our every need.  Jesus told his disciples that they did not have to worry about what they shall eat, what they shall drink, and what they shall be clothed with:

“For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:32). He knows just what we need even before we ask.