Verse of the Day 7/24

Verse of the Day 7/24

Matthew 6:7-8   And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.   New International Version (NIV)

Yesterday we considered how king Solomon encouraged us to "let our words be few" when approaching God.  In today's verses from the "model prayer" instructions given to us by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, He conveys to us the same thing.  We are not to come babbling to God,  God is not impressed by our vocabulary or the volume of words;  but instead to pray earnestly from our hearts.

It is easy to fall into the pattern of praying certain words, scripted prayers without truly giving thought to what we are saying and to whom we are praying.  We do so at dinnertime or perhaps praying bedtime prayers with our kids at night.  These things are not wrong, but we need to keep our hearts engaged.

The other thing that we should be quick to notice is that Jesus says "when you" pray.  It should be a given that we pray to our heavenly Father day by day.  They don't have to be long prayers but may simply be "help me Lord" in whatever situation calls for it.

I like the heading in the New King James Version below, "The Model Prayer".  It is not magic but it gives us a blue print on the main components of prayer.  Pray the prayer or use it as a blueprint for your prayer to your heavenly Father today.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Matthew 6:5-15 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Model Prayer

⁵ "And when you pray, you shall not be like the ^[a]hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you ^[b]openly. ⁷ And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

⁸ "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. ⁹ In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
¹³ And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
^[c]For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

¹⁴ "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.