He Knows My Needs
Scripture Reading: Luke 11:1-13
Meditation
It’s becoming painfully clear to the disciples that Christ-followers aren’t immune to trouble.
Though the disciples place their feet in the footprints of their Master, the ministry path they walk is rough-and-tumble. Each day of the journey has its own share of ankle turning trials and knee buckling anxiety. The road to the cross is replete with treacherous terrain, loose gravel, formidable obstacles, and forked passages.
As the disciples march with Jesus toward Jerusalem, they worry about a multitude of everyday needs: earthly provisions, heavenly protection, continual grace for ever-present trespasses, guidance through the valley of the shadow of death and bulwarks against sin, flesh, and the devil.
Though the daily burdens of life are unwelcome guests, Jesus doesn’t see them as intruders. He sees them as messengers carrying an invitation to bend the knee and fold the hands. In his eyes, every trial is an opportunity to seize trouble by the throat, fold it into a petition, pack it into a prayer, and send it heavenward toward the Father.
But the disciples wonder about the God to whom they pray. They’re not sure if the Creator of the universe is approachable or even concerned about the minute details of their everyday life.
They wonder,
“Does he know about our needs? Does he care? If he does care, is he willing to act?”
The disciples have heard others pray. Every time they go to the synagogue, they see religious leaders stand out in the open and bellow out formulaic prayers. These men and their prayers sound so pious. Like peacocks, the Pharisees puff out their chests and brag about their intercessory rituals—how much they pray, how long, how often.
Jesus had once told his disciples to beware of such displays of piety.
“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.”1
When the disciples hear Jesus pray, they hear simplicity.
The tone of his prayers is intimate. His words are passionate. When he prays, it’s as if he’s a little child talking to his Abba Father. Tender. Straightforward. No pretense or formality. He’s just a child asking his daddy for the things that he needs.
After hearing Jesus pray so effortlessly, the disciples beg him to teach them how to pray.
In a plain and informal way, Jesus begins,
“When you pray, say,
‘Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.’ ”2
Jesus’ advice to his disciples is to keep it simple.
If there’s a need, simply ask and ask simply. No formulas. No gimmicks to get God to do what you want. No secret techniques.
Just begin by saying, “Father”. Believe that the “Abba” cares more about your needs than you do. State all of your needs, those in heaven and those on earth. Above all, be direct. And end with a hearty and certain “amen.”
To illustrate his point, Jesus tells a story.
A neighbor comes to his friend’s house in the middle of the night and begins to pound on the door. He needs three loaves of bread because a friend has just arrived from out of town and his cupboards are bare. The friend inside the house tells the neighbor to go away. But the neighbor is persistent. He keeps knocking, waking up the entire house as well as all the neighbors. Finally, the man inside the house gets up, unlocks the door, and gives the man the three loaves of bread.
Jesus says to his disciples,
“Ask and you’ll get; seek and you’ll find; knock and the door will open.”
“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”3
When the disciples have a need, Jesus tells them to pray.
He tells them to lift earthly troubles to heaven’s gates, not because they need to inform the Father in heaven of their needs but because—in the praying—the children come to know that they have a heavenly Father, one who knows their every need and is ready and willing to act.
Ask. Seek. Knock.
The Father, to which Jesus prays, loves to answer.
Reflection
What’s the difference between wants and needs? What wants do you have? What needs?
How do you view prayer? Is it a means by which you inform God about yours needs or—in praying—do you come to know the heart of the Father?
How is Jesus inviting you to be bolder in your prayer life?
Jesus said to ask, seek, and knock. Write a prayer stating your needs. Be direct. Don’t bargain with God. Simply ask and ask simply.
Prayer
Father,
I am prayer-ignorant.
All too many times my prayers are full of formulas, complex rituals, manipulating techniques, and bartering tactics for getting you to do what I want. When I pray, I spend the majority of my time informing you of the troubles I think you should be aware of. Yet, in my need, you ask me keep it simple, to be direct, to pray out of an intimate relationship with you and not out of a hollow ritual.
During this day, remind me that you are a perfect Father and that you care more about my needs than I do.
In Christ, help me pray relationally. Let me call you “Abba”, “Daddy”, “Father”.
Through Christ, help me pray rightly. Your will. Your way. Your time.
On account of Christ, help me pray boldly. No request unspoken. No desire left unsaid.
In your Son’s name I pray. Amen
1Matthew 6:7-9 2Luke 11:2-4 3Luke 11:9-13
All Scripture references in the meditation are marked by italics and are taken from the Gospel reading for the day. Those verses quoted outside of the chosen reading for the day are noted. All Scripture quoted in this post is taken from THE MESSAGE: Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001 & 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.