Why Do We Pray If God Already Knows? The Secret Power of Jewish Prayer

Every Jew prays three times a day — Shacharit (morning), Minchah (afternoon), and Maariv (evening). The highlight of these prayers is the Amidah (the “Shemoneh Esrei”), composed of a wide range of blessings and requests, both personal and collective, directed to the Creator of the world. We ask for life, wisdom, repentance, health, good livelihood, the redemption of Israel and the return to Zion, as well as blessings of praise and gratitude for the kindness God bestows upon us every day, every hour, every moment.

If we look closely, we notice that essentially we are praying for what we lack — for what the world needs. Why do we need to ask at all? God created the world, from the smallest plant to the greatest planet; He feeds and sustains everything, from the mightiest animal to the tiniest insect. Doesn’t He already know what each person needs? After all, He searches the heart and the mind! Doesn’t He know what the world requires? “The whole earth is full of His glory!”

To understand the profound message and the true power of prayer, we must go back thousands of years.

Creation of the World

God created the world in six days: heaven and earth, light and darkness, trees and plants, sun, moon, and stars, animals, and finally, the crown of creation — human beings. After completing His work, He rested on the seventh day. The Torah then states: "No shrub of the field was yet on the earth, and no grass of the field had yet sprouted, because the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to work the soil" (Bereishit 2:5).

The Talmud (Chullin 60b) explains that the plants had been created, but they remained below the surface, waiting. Only when Adam came and prayed for rain did the rains fall, and the plants grew. This teaches that God longs for the prayers of the righteous. From the very beginning, creation itself awaited prayer to move potential into actuality.

This illustrates a foundational principle: there are things already prepared for us in creation, but they do not manifest until prayer brings them forth.

Why pray, if God already knows?

Imagine a beloved only son preparing to leave for summer camp. The night before, he says to his father:
“Dad, I’ll need money for my stay.”
The father nods and gives him a small amount.
“Dad, I’ll need more — I’ll be gone for two weeks.”
“I know,” the father replies, “but when you need more, call me and I’ll send you whatever you need immediately.”

The son goes off, has fun, and forgets about home, until his money runs out. Then he remembers to call his father, and receives what he asks for. It is then that he understands why his father didn’t give him everything at once: to ensure that even while away, their connection would remain.

So it is with the soul. Sent into the world on God’s mission, clothed in a body, He tells it: “Whatever you need, ask Me, and I will send it.”

The essence of prayer is the bond with God. He knows what we lack and what we need, but He desires that His children stay connected to Him, that they turn to Him, ask of Him, recognize His kingship and divinity, and maintain a living relationship with their Father in Heaven.

Rabbi Shimshon Pincus explains that sometimes when a child becomes ill, the parents rush from doctor to doctor. God’s intention however is that the parents will turn to Him, the true Healer of all flesh, pray for their child’s recovery, and learn to appreciate every day of health as a divine gift. Through prayer, healing comes.

The curse of the snake

The snake was cursed: “Dust you shall eat all the days of your life” (Bereishit 3:14). At first glance, that sounds like a blessing — no need to prepare or store food. In truth however, this was the greatest curse, for it meant that God had no interest in an ongoing relationship with the snake.

We, however, are expected to seek success, livelihood, health, marriage, and blessings through prayer. Our task is to turn to God, to forge a living bond with the King of Kings, and to believe that He alone can help and shower us with endless abundance.

May all our prayers be accepted with love and mercy.