Penny Stones

I bought some "Penny Stones" a while back. The edition I bought is faith-based. It looks like there are several editions, Marriage, Slumber Party, Games. Each smooth clear stone has a conversation starter. I haven't used them yet but I plan to start right now.

The first one I pulled from the bag asks "why pray if God already knows".

This question is asked a lot. I think the answer is "for us". God already knows what we need, when we need it, and what we'll do when we get it. So He doesn't want us to pray for Him.....except for prayers of worship, thanksgiving, confession, and praise. I think He wants us to ask Him for us. If we ASK Him, we are acknowledging that we can't do it all; we can't find someone else who can fix it; we are in need of Him and we know it.

God wants a relationship with us. That seems pretty apparent. He sent His son, then died to be reconciled to us. He wants us to want the relationship to. When we ask for help from anyone, we are asking for a relationship with them. When you ask your neighbor for an egg because you don't have enough for the recipe, you open yourself to the neighbor filling your needs, to the neighbor knowing that you don't have enough (whatever it may be), to accepting friendship if only out of necessity. Isn't it the same with God? When we verbalize our needs, we acknowledge that we don't have all the answers, that we need God's help, that we are open Him and to the answer He feels inclined to give us.

I've heard people say that they don't like to pray for themselves, that it feels selfish. But based on what I've read in scripture, God wants us to pray for ourselves, to humble ourselves, to ask Him for anything. He is delighted to provide to those who ask.

Father, pour out Your goodness on me so that I resemble You more and more each day. Cause me to stumble where necessary so that I come to you in humility to meet the desires of Your heart for me. Amen.

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