In partnership with God

Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. – Matthew 6:8

A man had transformed an overgrown plot of ground into a beautiful garden and was showing a friend what he had accomplished. Pointing to a bed of flowers, he said, "Look at what I did here." His companion corrected him, "You mean, ‘Look at what God and I did here’." The gardener replied, "I guess you’re right. But you should have seen the shape this plot was in when He was taking care of it by Himself."

We chuckle at the man’s reply, but it expresses a wonderful spiritual truth – we are co-workers with God. This applies to every area of life, including prayer. It answers a question that naturally comes to mind when we reflect on Jesus’ statements in MATTHEW 6. He said we don’t need to pray on and on with vain repetitions like the pagans, because our Father knows what we need before we ask (MATTHEW 6:7-8).

The question is, then, why pray? The answer is simple and comforting. God has graciously chosen to give us the privilege of being His partners in both the physical and spiritual areas of life. Through prayer we work with Him in defeating the powers of evil and in bringing about the fulfillment of His loving purposes in the world. Partners with God – what a privilege! What an incentive to pray! – Herbert Vander Lugt

Although God knows our every need,

His work He wants to share;

He takes us into partnership

By calling us to prayer. – Dennis J. De Haan

Read: Matthew 6:5-15

God’s work is done by those who pray.