Matthew 6:5-8
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 others. Truly I tell you, 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.
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Devotion
Once again, Jesus uses the word hypocrite to describe people who pray openly in the streets “to be seen by men.” This is some strong language. Once again, we see that they have received their reward. They pray so that they may be seen by men. A person might go around wearing a prayer shawl, which advertises the fact that they are praying. In Jesus’ day, they had specific times of prayer. Some people would maneuver and manipulate where they were for prayer time. Often the location would be on a street corner or in the synagogue. These were prime people spots! Hypocrites loved to pray in highly visible places so that others would see how spiritual they were.
Instead, Jesus instructs His disciples to pray privately. Why? Because prayer is not informing God of something unknown. Prayer is drawing oneself into the divine life by communing with the Holy Trinity. This personal, intimate time with the Godhead prepares and launches us into our God-given mission into the world. God loves us and invites us into these private encounters with Him.
In his message, Pastor Adam talked about how we pray in private. First, we must be alone. This means we must not allow ourselves to be distracted. It is possible to be alone with God even with other people present. Second, we must quiet our hearts and be fully present with God. This means we are present physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Many times, this might involve pulling away from others and moving to a quiet place. Jesus did this often. Lastly, we must be fully transparent with God. Remember, nothing is hidden from God. He knows your thoughts, heart, and actions. It is ok to be transparent with God because He already knows!
There is a tension when we pray in public settings. As a pastor, I am called on to pray in public settings often. I know that my prayers are directed to God, but others can hear them too. It is easy to forget that I am praying to God and worry about what others are thinking about what I am saying. We can’t learn to hear God’s voice when our focus is on looking good before others in prayer. Remember, we are praying to an audience of One! Just like acts of righteousness and giving, don’t practice your private discipline for public performance.
Questions to Ponder:
Do you struggle to be transparent with God? If so, why? Do you have a hard time praying in a public setting? If so, why? Do you enjoy pulling away from the distractions of the world and just drawing close to God and enjoying His presence?
Prayer Points
- Hallowed be His Name. Praise the Lord that He has made a way for us to enter into the holy of holies. Bow down and worship the King of the universe, Ancient of days, Eternal God who is our Abba.
- Enter His courts with thanksgiving. Thank Him that He has chosen and invited you into this eternal relationship with Him. Apologize for the times you have neglected your alone time with Him. Ask Him for help in guarding your time together.
- Thank Abba that He is all-powerful, all-knowing, sovereign, and dwells inside of you by His Holy Spirit.
- Mediate on the reality of His indwelling Spirit. Confess “pushing” Jesus off the center of your heart and invite Him afresh to be at the center of your heart and life. Yield to His Spirit throughout the day.
- Ask the Lord to “teach you how to pray.”
- Ask Abba to enable His church, the bride of Christ, to submit and respond to Him in the place of prayer as He pours out a spirit of prayer and supplication upon His sons and daughters. Ask for a tenderness and receptive heart and mind toward him.
Suggested Prayer
Loving and Holy Father, God Almighty, I run into Your Strong Tower and worship and adore You. Thank You for being the lifter of my head; the banner over me is love. Thank You for how You protect and watch over me and for being 100% faithful to me even when I am not faithful to You. Oh Lord, thank You for this eternal conversation that I have with You because of Your unfailing love. Thank You that I can pray to You at any time, any place, in the quietness of my own heart, where only You and I see and hear. Oh God, I ask for a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know You better. I ask that You open the eyes of my heart so that I will know the hope to which You have called me, the riches of the inheritance with all the saints, and the power that is within me. Strengthen my inner man, oh God, that You, Jesus, will dwell in the center of my heart so that I will know the depth of Your love, oh God. Love on me even now; speak Your truth. I need Your encouragement, Your wisdom, and Your power. In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask. Amen.