Yes, God knows everything, but prayer is still necessary because God desires personal communication with believers.
God's foreknowledge means He knows our needs before we ask, but prayer is not about informing God—it's about expressing our hearts to Him. Les Feldick teaches that God wants us to bring our concerns and desires to Him personally, and prayer is how we do that.
Philippians 4:6-7 — This passage directly instructs believers to pray about everything, addressing the concern of prayer's necessity despite God's knowledge.
The Bible teaches that God is omniscient and knows our thoughts and needs before we ask. In Philippians 4:6-7, believers are commanded to be careful for nothing but to make requests known to God with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, and the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds. This implies prayer is a practice God expects despite His foreknowledge. Additionally, Romans 8:27 indicates that God searches hearts and knows the mind of the Spirit, affirming His intimate awareness of our inner being.
Les Feldick emphasizes that God's foreknowledge means He knows everything about us, including our needs and thoughts, even before we ask. However, prayer is still necessary because God wants personal communication with believers. He uses Nehemiah's silent prayer as an example, showing that God hears our unspoken thoughts. Les also clarifies that God is not caught by surprise; He has preordained all things but never takes away our free will. Prayer is part of that plan, as God already knew we would pray.
Yes, God knows our thoughts like an open book. He knows our needs even before we ask, and He knows us on a first name basis. His foreknowledge extends to every individual's choices, but this does not remove our free will; He simply knows what we will do.
Prayer is necessary because God desires personal communication. It is not to inform God but to express from our hearts what we desire and need. He hears everyone as an individual, and prayer is a privilege for believers to have a relationship with Him.
Believers should not worry but bring everything to God with thanksgiving. Worrying is forbidden, but having concern is acceptable. Requests should be made with thanksgiving, acknowledging God's grace and mercy, and trusting Him to answer according to His will.
Prayer Replaces Worry
Les teaches that believers should not worry but bring everything to God in prayer, because God forbids worry and prayer is the remedy.
Tongues, Prophecy & Order in Worship - 1 Corinthians 14:14-40 Explained
Now how much plainer can you get? Even for the individual. What good does it do, Paul says, to speak in a language that you don't know you're talking about? And I know their answer is what God does. The Book doesn't say He does. We know that being omniscient He certainly can if He wants to. But there is nothing in here to indicate that this is what God expects people to do. Not a word.
God's Foreknowledge
Les explains that God foreknew every individual's response to the gospel and is in complete control of all events, which undergirds why we can trust Him in prayer.
God Hears Every Prayer Individually
Les teaches that God hears each believer's prayer individually and knows all about us, giving assurance that prayer is meaningful.
God Knows Our Needs
Les states that God knows us on a first name basis and knows our needs even before we ask, yet He still wants us to come to Him.
Silent Prayer and God's Awareness
Les uses Nehemiah's silent prayer to show that God reads our thoughts and hears even unspoken prayers.
Foreknowledge and Choice
Les explains that God's foreknowledge does not remove human choice; He knows what we will do, but we still choose.
God Never Surprised
Les emphasizes that God is sovereign and never caught by surprise, and prayer fits within His preordained plan.
Philippians 4:6-7: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
This verse directly commands believers to pray about everything and promises God's peace in response.
Romans 8:27: And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
This verse shows that God searches hearts and knows the mind of the Spirit, affirming His intimate knowledge of our inner thoughts.
God wants personal communication with you. Asking is a way to express your heart and trust in Him. It's not for His information but for your relationship with Him.
God answers according to His grace and mercy. We are to make requests with thanksgiving, trusting that He will do what is best according to His will.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Says Pray About Everything — Philippians 4:6-7