Wayne Grudem wrote, "God does not want us to pray so that he can find out what we need, for Jesus said, 'Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.' Instead, God wants us to pray so that our dependence on him can increase."
Grudem was right. Never pray to inform God about anything. God knows all things, the end from the beginning. God certainly knows every need we have or ever shall have. God knows what we need before we ask him. God is omniscient, knowing all that has been, shall be, or could have been.
Dr. Grudem taught that we pray to express our dependence upon God. We are not self-sufficient. We are more aware of our dependence upon God through trials, temptation, and difficult days. We pray depending on God to supply our needs (Matthew 6:11).
Prayer includes adoration, confession and thanksgiving to God. Yet, we also come to God most often to express our dependence upon him. In those times, we make our requests known unto God. We admit our needs and seek God's help. We ask God to supply our needs according to his will. Prayer expresses our dependence on God.
Grudem maintained that "God wants us to pray so that our dependence on him can increase." We are totally dependent on God. It's in him that we live and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). Prayer expresses our dependence upon God, knowing that he shall supply our needs (Philippians 4:19).
