Why should we pray if God already knows what we need before we ask?
Prayer wasn’t intended to inform God of something he doesn’t already know. Prayer isn’t merely to get what we want but to nurture our relationship with God. As a result, prayer can change us rather than the situation, reinforcing our confidence in our God and realigning our will with his. At the same time, God invites us to involve ourselves in his work by praying. HOW TO PRAY: MATTHEW 6: 5-15, as stated from the NIV (New International Version) Bible. 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.
KJV Matthew 6: 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ” ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PRAY IN JESUS’ NAME? As the scripture states in John 14: 13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Praying in Jesus’ name means the same thing as praying according to the will of God.
However, saying “In Jesus’ name” at the end of a prayer is not a “magic formula.” If what you asked for or said in prayer was not for God’s glory and according to His will, saying “In Jesus’ name” is meaningless. Genuinely praying in Jesus’ name and for His glory is what is important, not attaching certain words to the end of a prayer. Praying for things that are in accordance with God’s will is the essence of praying in Jesus’ name.