It is no great feat to convince another person of a lie. Because other people cannot see our inner selves, they are easily deceived. But as we pray to God, we pray to one who knows our innermost thoughts, our innermost desires, our innermost longings. We pray to one who knows us far better than we know ourselves.
God weighs the heart (Proverbs 21:2), he knows the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), he searches the heart Jeremiah 17:10), he observes the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44:21), and he even discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Nothing is hidden from his sight. Rather, “all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” Hebrews 4:13).
That being the case, we ought to pray with honesty. We ought to put aside any thoughts of deceiving God or being less than honest with God. There is no benefit to mouthing words that do not reflect our hearts. But there is great benefit in honestly telling God our every struggle, our every temptation, our every desire, and asking him to extend to us his grace and his mercy.
So when you pray, pray with honesty. God knows it all anyway!
