Matthew 6 Devotional

The Father Already Knows

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”Matthew 6:8 (BSB)

Matthew 6 keeps returning to the Father. Jesus warns against giving, praying, and fasting in order to be seen, because the attention of other people is the only reward such acts will ever get (6:1-2). The answer is to do them before a different audience. The Father sees what is done in secret (6:4, 6:6, 6:18). He knows what you need before you ask him (6:8), so prayer is not a performance or a long speech meant to wear him down. It begins by simply calling on God as Father (6:9).

The same Father stands behind Jesus' words about worry. He feeds birds that never plant or harvest, and he dresses the wildflowers more beautifully than Solomon ever dressed (6:26-29). If he cares for these, he will care for his children, who are worth far more to him. Worry cannot add even an hour to a life (6:27). Because your Father already knows what you need (6:32), you are free to seek his kingdom first (6:33) and to leave tomorrow in his hands.

To think about: What worry are you carrying into today that you could hand over to the Father who already knows what you need?