Humble Prayer


Prayer: Hear us Father when we pray Through Your Son and in Your Spirit
By Your Spirit’s Word convey All that we through Christ inherit
That as baptized heirs we may Truly pray

Read: Matthew 6:5–15
http://www.esvbible.org/Matthew 6:5-15

Think about It: The Lord’s Prayer may be one of the most oft quoted passages of Scripture for people globally say this prayer every day of their lives. There’s a reason for that – it hits all the bases. Today we are going to examine those Words that Jesus spoke just before He said “Pray like this” in verse 9.
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Humility. True prayers come out of a heart that is humbly seeking the face of God, not the accolades of man. In Jesus’ day they were known as the Pharisees. It gave them great joy to stand in front of everyone and pray loudly so that  everyone could be impressed by their praying prowess. We’ve all been in the presence of people like that. It makes them happy when you are a little bit overwhelmed by their ability to put a sentence together in front of God (and you.) But according to Jesus, that doesn’t do much for God. Your awe of that person is their reward. They have not spoken to God but to you. Here we have an example of what not to do. 

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Prayer is generally a personal matter. Yes, we pray corporately all the time and there is tremendous value in that practice. But even in a crowd the prayer is about what is going on inside of your heart. It is a private conversation between you and God. It is not an opportunity for you to gain points with those around you. It is a time for something personal to happen inside of you. God wants to hear from you, not watch as you put on a show for the others in the room.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
And what do you say when in prayer? That may depend on who you are and how God has wired you. There are folks who love to talk and it is just a part of who they are. They have many words to share. You know what – that’s okay! God made you that way. But, if you’re just filling up the air with words when you pray, that doesn’t leave much space for you to hear from God. It also might be overwhelming to others if you are praying in a public setting. Jesus tells us here to get to the point when praying publicly.

These prayer points may seem a little harsh when taken alone. But remember they are a part of a larger picture. Jesus is seeking to help the disciples have a genuine and honest relationship with His Father in heaven. Your prayer time is about your relationship with God and His with you. Forget those around you and allow authentic prayer (conversation) with the Lord to take place!

Prayer: When we know not what to say,
        And our wounded souls are pleading
May Your Spirit night and day, Groan within us interceding
By His sighs too deep for words, We are heard
© Chad L. Bird. Used by permission. LSB Hymn License. NET. # 100012090

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