01.C 02. Why Pray if God Knows And is Kind

II WHY PRAY IF GOD KNOWS AND IS KIND?

“Your heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” — Matthew 6:8. A second perplexity shapes itself thus, Is not God all-knowing? Why, then, tell Him that with which He is already familiar? And is He not kindhearted and benevolent and therefore infinitely disposed to supply all our needs without any asking on our part? Does not, indeed, our importuning imply an unreadiness on His part to give, and is it not therefore an affront to Him?

Yes, “Your heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him,” but He has told us, nevertheless, to pray, and whatever His design may be it will certainly be to our interest to follow His instruction.

Again, His knowing does not exclude the possibility of our asking being pleasing to Him. It is a sure mark of confidence in Him.

Again, not to mention the reflex benefit, for we are now thinking of the direct efficacy of prayer, to say, *’ Oh, well, no use to pray; if it’s best to be, it will be,” is utterly incompatible with the disposition that would appreciate and make the most of the favor if it came. Earnest prayer is not only the most appropriate evidence that the sinner feels his needs but the most appropriate evidence of his fitness to moral fitness to receive the receive the blessing that otherwise would be best for him. You may know your neighbor is in want and be most anxious to help him, and yet he may in his present state of mind be so indifferent to his poverty as to make it quite as much worth your while to throw your help away.