Righteous Act #2 -- Praying (Devotional Day 26)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:5-8)
As Jesus continues his teaching on righteous living, he turns his attention to prayer. And, as he did with his teaching on giving, Jesus makes the assumption that his followers will do it and he also warns us not to be hypocrites, play-actors who make a big show of talking to God when really they are just drawing attention to themselves.
First, let’s talk about the assumption that Jesus makes – that his followers will pray. I’m sure that most of us do pray, especially when life puts us in a foxhole or between a rock and a hard place. However, I can’t assume that we all pray regularly or even daily.
I have known a lot of Christians and have been surprised by the number of people who confess that even though they want to pray, they often put it off. They can’t seem to find the time, or the right time and place in the day. Or, if they are honest, they feel unworthy to talk to God or they doubt that He is listening or that He will do anything to answer their request anyway. Lack of faith in God to hear and respond to their request or lack of faith in the work of Christ to make them worthy and holy before Him steal away their intimacy with God in prayer.
Don’t let this happen to you. Jesus suffered on the cross so that your sins can be forgiven and you can have direct access to God. If you feel unworthy to pray, then confess your sins to God, put your faith in Christ, and give your life to Him, knowing that His sacrifice on the cross makes you holy and without sin, able to go to Him in prayer whenever and wherever you desire.
And let me emphasize the whenever and wherever you desire. You don’t have to have a set time and place, although that helps some people maintain regular contact with God so that is a good thing. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can talk to God, just pouring out your heart and feelings to Him, at any time and any place. Private places are best – in your bedroom, the car, the shower, while on a walk, while doing housework or yard work, whatever – just start talking to Him as often as you can. You will be blessed!
So then, when you pray, talk to God from your heart, not from a script. If you are praying publicly, don’t feel like you have to pray for a certain amount of time or use the right words. Public prayer is not a performance; it is leading the people of God into His presence and talking to Him on their behalf.
The same is especially true when you are praying privately. There is no need to feel that you have to babble on for a certain period of time or use the right words or hit every need on your list. The Father knows what you need better than you do. You don’t have to say the right words or do the right ritual or sing the right incantation to get Him to do what you want Him to do. It doesn’t work that way. It is more like a child talking to a parent that loves him very, very much.
Your Father loves you and wants what’s best for you, so just crawl into His lap and talk to Him. Tell Him your concerns, your fears, your worries. Tell Him about the mistakes you have made and where you need His help. He will be quick to answer, although it might be in ways you never expected!
Pray with me: Father, thank you that because of Jesus I am holy and have direct access to you. Thank you that I am your child and I can talk to you anytime I want, and I bring these concerns before you now…continue praying as you are led…
Meditate on these Scriptures:
Phil 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
1 Thess 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Col 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
For further study: Click on the links below to find more resources.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:5-8)
As Jesus continues his teaching on righteous living, he turns his attention to prayer. And, as he did with his teaching on giving, Jesus makes the assumption that his followers will do it and he also warns us not to be hypocrites, play-actors who make a big show of talking to God when really they are just drawing attention to themselves.
First, let’s talk about the assumption that Jesus makes – that his followers will pray. I’m sure that most of us do pray, especially when life puts us in a foxhole or between a rock and a hard place. However, I can’t assume that we all pray regularly or even daily.
I have known a lot of Christians and have been surprised by the number of people who confess that even though they want to pray, they often put it off. They can’t seem to find the time, or the right time and place in the day. Or, if they are honest, they feel unworthy to talk to God or they doubt that He is listening or that He will do anything to answer their request anyway. Lack of faith in God to hear and respond to their request or lack of faith in the work of Christ to make them worthy and holy before Him steal away their intimacy with God in prayer.
Don’t let this happen to you. Jesus suffered on the cross so that your sins can be forgiven and you can have direct access to God. If you feel unworthy to pray, then confess your sins to God, put your faith in Christ, and give your life to Him, knowing that His sacrifice on the cross makes you holy and without sin, able to go to Him in prayer whenever and wherever you desire.
And let me emphasize the whenever and wherever you desire. You don’t have to have a set time and place, although that helps some people maintain regular contact with God so that is a good thing. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can talk to God, just pouring out your heart and feelings to Him, at any time and any place. Private places are best – in your bedroom, the car, the shower, while on a walk, while doing housework or yard work, whatever – just start talking to Him as often as you can. You will be blessed!
So then, when you pray, talk to God from your heart, not from a script. If you are praying publicly, don’t feel like you have to pray for a certain amount of time or use the right words. Public prayer is not a performance; it is leading the people of God into His presence and talking to Him on their behalf.
The same is especially true when you are praying privately. There is no need to feel that you have to babble on for a certain period of time or use the right words or hit every need on your list. The Father knows what you need better than you do. You don’t have to say the right words or do the right ritual or sing the right incantation to get Him to do what you want Him to do. It doesn’t work that way. It is more like a child talking to a parent that loves him very, very much.
Your Father loves you and wants what’s best for you, so just crawl into His lap and talk to Him. Tell Him your concerns, your fears, your worries. Tell Him about the mistakes you have made and where you need His help. He will be quick to answer, although it might be in ways you never expected!
Pray with me: Father, thank you that because of Jesus I am holy and have direct access to you. Thank you that I am your child and I can talk to you anytime I want, and I bring these concerns before you now…continue praying as you are led…
Meditate on these Scriptures:
Phil 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
1 Thess 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Col 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
For further study: Click on the links below to find more resources.
To be a part of the conversation about the article above, or even if you just want to read what everyone else is saying about it, go to the Righteous Act #2 -- Praying Comments Page.
To be a part of the conversation about the article above, or even if you just want to read what everyone else is saying about it, go to the Keeping Your Word Pure Comments Page.
To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.
To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.
This article is Day 26 of the 40 Day Devotional; the next devotional is Day 27.
Please use this website for personal devotional use and feel free to share it with friends and family. However, all publishing rights are reserved. No reproduction or publication of this blog is permitted without the permission of the author, Pastor Randy Brockett. To contact Pastor Randy, email him at [email protected].
To be a part of the conversation about the article above, or even if you just want to read what everyone else is saying about it, go to the Keeping Your Word Pure Comments Page.
To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.
To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.
This article is Day 26 of the 40 Day Devotional; the next devotional is Day 27.
Please use this website for personal devotional use and feel free to share it with friends and family. However, all publishing rights are reserved. No reproduction or publication of this blog is permitted without the permission of the author, Pastor Randy Brockett. To contact Pastor Randy, email him at [email protected].