He Knows

Matthew 6:8 KJV
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

The focal truth in this segment of the Sermon on the Mount is, "...your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him."

Then, based upon that truth Jesus gives two applications:

First, "...when ye pray, use not vain repetitions..."Secondly, "After this manner therefore pray ye...."

The term vain repetition means empty, useless words. The amazing thing is that some have gone right from using useless prayer beads to making the model prayer here given a vain repetition.

When we come to the Father in prayer a truth that ought to pervade all else is this one, "He knows our needs."

That truth ought to transform the things we pray for
That truth ought to spawn confidence in prayer
That truth ought to dismiss needless prayer
That truth ought to encourage fervent prayer

Our Heavenly Father knows what we have need of before we ask it. Therefore we can pray for others
Therefore we can pray for things eternal rather than temporal
Therefore we can dismiss those cares for common needs and move on to the supernatural elements at work in our world.
"...your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."