Category Archives: Pastors Blog

Why Pray if God Knows Everything?

    Caryl and I have found every season of life with kids to be interesting. My recent thoughts on the importance of prayer has caused me to reflect on raising a family. There are times that as an parent you need to craft an answer to be age appropriate for your child. There are also times when you are able to read situations and know what your child needs. The challenge as your kids grow older is to assess their situation so as to not step in too soon which can squander or eliminate a growth opportunity.

     I recently was reading Matthew 6. This portion of Scripture is part of a longer section known as the Sermon on the Mount. It you were to visit Israel today; you can visit the site that is believed to be the hillside amphitheater where Jesus taught the truths found in Mathew chapters 5-7. It is in chapter 6 that we find Jesus’ instruction on prayer. It is here that Jesus teaches, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6) He reminds us that prayer is not to impress others but to interface with our Creator. The context speaks of the importance of prayer. It is a few verses later that Jesus provide a template for praying. Many misunderstand the “Lord’s Prayer” as it is known. It is an example of prayer that serves as an outline to help us be more effective when praying. Think of it as a template to be filled out with your specific situation and needs.

     What stood out to me specifically in the passage was the portion where Jesus teaches, “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8) It is a verse that should cause you to pause. If God knows everything, then why does he not provide our needs. It is a very important question. Maybe you have wondered about this too.

     The simple response is illustrated in my opening comments. Our Heavenly Father is waiting to see if we desire His help. There are many times that Caryl and I did help our kids. There were also times that we did not help them. There are also times that we have offered help but waited for them to ask. There were times that the situation is not something that we could fix or did not have the resources needed or it was best for our child to work through on their own. But lack of resources is not a limitation for the Lord who has unlimited resources. It has been said “God can respond it three ways, “Yes, No or Grow!” The Bible reminds that one of the main reasons that Lord does not help is because we do not ask! Another reason is the request would become a hindrance to us. Many times He is working in response to our prayers, but it is not the right timing.

    God encourages us repeatedly to bring our needs and situations to Him. But we must see Him as our loving Heaven Father that always works for what is best for us. “So Why Pray if the Father knows what we need?” Jesus’ teaching reveals that the Father’s being aware of our needs should encourage us to pray! It reminds us of His intense interest in our day to day lives and His desire to help. He is just waiting for you to ask!

 -Pastor Joe Parkinson

What if Everything Fails?

    Have you ever wondered what you would do if everything fails? You might want to ask, well, what is everything? I am being general because the areas of life that challenge each of us can be different. Some might be worried about their financial situation. For others, it may be their health condition or that… Continue Reading

Is it OK to Test the Lord?

    If there is one thing certain about life, it is that we are frequently faced with uncertainty. The uncertainties in our lives range from needing direction on decisions to understanding how to navigate a current crisis. The question I’m asking is- Is there is a right and wrong way to seek the Lord’s help in… Continue Reading

Fear God or Inflation?

    It is interesting how quickly circumstances can seize our attention. Many that I know are concerned by all that could possibly happen in our economy. The challenge is that it seems like there is no end of attention-grabbing issues. It should not surprise us that the Bible speaks to the follower of Jesus’ response. It… Continue Reading

The Blessings of Setbacks!

It is a very unique person that understands and embraces the setbacks of life. I would assume that for most of us we would prefer to avoid these unexpected and unwanted interruptions. It is interested that the Bible presents several positive insights on difficulties. I would like to look at how embracing these challenges puts… Continue Reading

The Danger of Blessing

    Most of us only think of the positive sides of blessing. But like most good things there is a place where it can ruin out lives. Now, you are thinking, “How could God’s blessing in my life be a danger?” Well, the Bible shares many accounts of blessing gone wrong. Let’s look at the account… Continue Reading

The Danger of Frustration

    I am sure that all of us have been pushed to our limit at some point. The danger of being in this zone is that we often don’t respond properly. Think about the last time that you let frustration get the better of you. The Bible reminds us that there are consequences when we let… Continue Reading

The Dangers of Resentment

    It seems that we live in a cultural context that celebrates being offended. It seems like everyone seems to be offended over something. Resentment is like playing with fire, you think that you can control it, but it has a life of its own. The Bible reminds us of the dangers of holding a grudge,… Continue Reading

Am I a Role Model?

    Let me ask you, “Are you a role model?” This is a question that we all need to ask ourselves. The answer to that would be yes for everyone. A better question is “What kind of role model am I?”  We know that everyone is a role model whether good or bad. I am sure… Continue Reading