We do not pray so that God can find out what we need, because Jesus tells us, “Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” Praying in humble dependence means that all of who we are as a person is relating to all of who God is as our Father.

1. God delights in your trust. For example, Jesus compares our praying to a son asking his father for a fish or an egg (Luke 11:9-12) and then concludes, “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” God our Father is prepared to provide for His children in the same way that children look to their fathers to provide for them.

2. God delights in fellowship with you. The God of the Bible places an emphasis on a relationship with His people. He enjoys spending time with his children who have made time to come to him.

3. God delights in including you in His activities. God gives us the opportunity to be involved in a meaningful way in the work of His kingdom when we exercise our privilege to come to Him in prayer.

James tells us, “You don’t have because you don’t ask for it from God” (James 4:2). He implies that failure to ask deprives us of what God would otherwise have given to us. Similarly, Jesus in

Luke 11:9-10 makes a clear connection between seeking things from God and receiving them. When we ask, God responds. On the basis of these few Scriptures plus the overwhelming number of other texts from the Bible that demonstrate God’s remarkable responses to prayer, may I suggest we all go to Him much more often in prayer. He awaits your arrival!

Pastor Mark