By T.M. Anderson
"Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6:8)
After revealing the truth about the secret place of prayer, the Savior continued His discourse on prayer, and revealed the Heavenly Father's provision for answering prayer. We should take sufficient time to meditate on this revealed truth; because it is exceedingly important to have an understanding of this essential fact before we pray. We may know in a general way that God knows all things; but we continue to live in spiritual need, and struggle alone with our problems, and suffer alone in our troubles. We suffer these things because we have failed to fully grasp the import of this consoling revelation about the Father's provision for our diversified needs.
The Savior's words assure us that the Heavenly Father has anticipated our many needs before we were born. Out of the generosity and infinite goodness of His loving heart, He has made a sufficient provision to satisfy every desire of our hearts, and to meet every demand of our lives.
It did not require one sleepless night of us to provide these things. We did not shed a single tear, or give one drop of our blood to provide them. We have not given a sacrifice from our flocks or our fields to purchase the things we need. Our Heavenly Father's great compassion for us has motivated Him to provide for our wants. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
The fact that our Father has provided for our needs reveals that the unlimited resources of God are made available through prayer. It is written, "My God shall supply all of your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19) Who can measure the extent of His riches in glory? When we have comprehended the fact of the Father's abundant supply for us, even before we ask Him, we can have the faith to ask Him for all things needful in life, and He will grant the requests in the Name of Jesus, our Lord.
I deem it necessary to stress the importance of the asking, because there is no other way to obtain the things we need. In the white light of the revealing words of Jesus regarding these things, there is no valid reason, and certainly no justifiable excuse, for spiritual poverty and want. But the evidence of spiritual need is apparent everywhere among the people of God. Moral weakness and spiritual instability is prevalent in the church. These deplorable conditions will cease to exist if the people of God will pray, and by faith draw upon the limitless riches of God in Christ Jesus. But we cannot expect Him to supply our needs when we are too indifferent and unconcerned to ask Him in faith.
If I can do nothing more than enlighten the saints of God about the power of prevailing prayer; and encourage them to explore the vast resources of the Father's provision for their needs, it will be a reward sufficient to compensate me for my labors of love. What I have learned in the school of prayer with the Master, is worth all it cost me in time to tarry in His Presence, and worship Him in spirit and in truth.
