Why would you pray to a God that you consider all-knowing?

Question

Wouldn't an all-knowing God already know the content of your thoughts and feelings?
Wouldn't God already know that you love and appreciate him?
Wouldn't God already know what you want?

If God is all knowing, doesn't that make prayer sort of redundant?

I see answers that seem to suggest that prayer is about obedience to God and his word.

Forgive my language, but does God really need us to brown nose that much? Why does he require so much obedience, especially if he supports free will?

Answer 1

Very good question indeed!!! I wish I had thought of this question myself. You hit the nail on the head. But I have no doubt that religious apologists will come up with some twisted answers. It would be interesting to see what they write. As for me, your question reminds me of the blind faith that religious people have. They are so blinded by their faith that they cannot be critical and rational. They are afraid that the spell will break if they start asking questions about their beliefs.

Answer 2

No. The Bible teaches that we are to pray and to pray often. Even Jesus prayed to God the Father. Prayer isn't like just some request line. Prayer is also for giving God thanks and praise. Prayer is for admitting, confessing, the wrong things we have done and expressing sorrow for doing them. Maybe God knows what you are going to say before you pray, but maybe that's just it...He wants to HEAR you say it. When you receive a gift of something you really wanted and need, do you tell the person thanks for giving you the gift? I think most people do. The person giving the gift probably knew that you wanted and needed the item they gave you before they even bought it. But most people express their thanks anyway. I think prayer can be the same way.

Answer 3

Although God knows you love Him He still enjoys us giving Him thanks verbally or consciously remember this is suppose to be a reciprocal event. God wants us to verbally ask for things not for His knowledge but for OUR sake. In other words how will your faith grow if you don't see or experience answers for specific prayer or prayers? Also God is the original psychologist, He knows that it is therapeutic to pray and worship, it enables us to tap into the joy of the Holy Spirit even when things are not going right. Oh, I almost forgot, we also wage war against Satan with our prayers!

Answer 4

Yes, God does know what we need before we pray, but it is his will that we pray, and pray without ceasing. Something happens to us when we pray to the Almighty God. It is not just getting what we want. It is progressively getting to know Him. Once the heart gets the scent, as it were, it begins to yearn for God. God says that we will find Him if we seek Him with all our hearts.

Answer 5

First, you need to fellowship with him, then he will reveal all things to you that you need.

yes
yes, if you have faith and obedience.
yes
no

DO THE WILL OF GOD
You need to find a home church, be obedient, follow his word, be baptized with the holy spirit, show your self approved and do the will of God (Mark 16: 15 - 18)

Answer 6

Prayer is a form of communication to God. He may be all-knowing, but He just wants to see if you can take the time to actually talk to him.

A simple example:

Let's sa a father already knows what his children want for their birthdays, from heir mother or other relatives. Even if he already knows what they want, he would sill invite his children to tell him. If one declines, the bond between them weakens. t's just like prayer. It strengthens the bond with God and his children.

:-)

Answer 7

Actually you are praying to yourself.
By praying continuously, you remind it again and again, put it into the subconscious mind. Then Subconscious mind takes care of it and the needs of the one who prays are supplied.
Now one can understand why most of the prayers are not heard.

Answer 8

God knew you were going to ask this question too and He gave you the choice to ask it.
P.S.
God knows I'm going to say a prayer for you.

Answer 9

First of all, yes God is the all-knowing powerful one. The reason for a person to pray to God all though He is the Powerful One, is to SHOW God your own consideration of your own life.

2nd, Love is communication between two people that needs to be SHOWN and acted upon. Anyone can say "I love you", but not everyone can show it. When you follow the Word of God with prayer with all that is in your life, especially with actions, you are showing God that you care for Him. Easier said than done when it comes to love. When one SHOWS God that they care for Him and love Him with actions as well, prayer enhances the love between God and His follower.

Thirdly, God knows what we want but He is more apt to give us what we need. The things that God gives His followers out of the the things they need rather than what they want simply means that when all is fulfilled between God's follower and God it will all amount to perfection. Being complete. The follower wouldn't be more happier. It is the outcome of all that God see's for His follower. God is always taking His actions that will be better for the follower in the long run. Not the short run of life. When a person decides to follow God it SHOWS God that they are taking in consideration all the things that are not known to them, and letting God know to handle their life to what is the unknown in there life. Praying to God is apart of this process. SHOWING God that you care period.

Last but not least, all this knowing of God being all Powerful does not make prayer meaningless because when we pray it SHOWS God that we care for ourselves. It SHOWS Him that the yearn to have a relationship with God is there with you inside. Without prayer there is no relationship with God. When a person decides to follow the Lord thy God, prayer is something that they learn to do along the way. Prayer is the way to communicate with God to let Him know especially as adults, being adults and grown able to make decisions on our own, God knows we are able to get up off our a$$ and make do for ourselves. Not having God tend to all our petty wants and desires without giving nothing in return.

Believing in God is a two way street. You give God what He asks of you, and God will give you *times fold.

EDIT:
God does not support free will. When God desires for a follower to do something there is no ifs, ands, or buts. The follower will do it without reasoning, and no questions asked. There is no free will in that.

Answer 10

God has commanded His followers to pray and He wants this time to hear and speak to you. He wants obedience, nothing more.