“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Previously we said that Jesus told us that if we do a good work, not to do it publicly. Instead if we do it so that only God can see, we will be rewarded by Him. Now there is a warning against being openly pious. This involves one’s habits of prayer. Jesus encourages that prayer be a private matter between ones self and God and that we should resist the temptation to use flowery words that make us appear to be more religious. Instead understand the Holy Spirit intercedes for the true believer and makes his humble uttering sufficient before God Almighty. We must remember that silence is God’s preferred language, not the babbling of the hypocrite.
Daily Prayer: Father, lead me to worship you in spirit and in truth. Hear not only the words that I say at prayer time, but my every thought as I walk down the street because of my dependence on you. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment