When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Matthew 6:5-8
Close the door--be alone with God when you pray. Jesus was teaching His followers to do the same thing that Elisha had done when the son of the Shunem woman died.
- When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet's bed. He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the LORD. 2 Kings 4:32-33
Elsha's prayer was effective--the boy came back to life. Would that have happened if Elisha had stood on the street corner and prayed? Where do you feel closest to God when you pray? Where have you prayed your most effective prayers?
God sees everything. In the book of Job we are reminded of the equality with which God sees and treats all people.
- He (God) doesn't care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all. In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do. No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes. Job 34:19-22
I like that God doesn't want us to babble on and on. We should stand in awe of Him.
- As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don't make rash promises, and don't be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool. Ecclesiastes 5:1-3
Jesus recognized that His followers needed to be taught not to be hypocritical--but to honor God with their prayers. Can you be alone with God--close the door and pray to Him?
Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍
© 2018 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
GqqqAll scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. www..org/daily reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment