Matthew 6:6 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. English Standard Version (ESV)
Most of you have already been asked this season " what do you want for Christmas", it is a natural question especially when your desire is to give something of value, that would be precious to a loved one. Other times the wish lists are simply a list of things that someone wants, not really needing the items. Prayers can oftentimes be our "wish lists" to receive from God what we want. They may be legitimate needs but if we are honest with ourselves and look back over the weeks, months, and years, most of them are wants and not needs.
In today's passage 3 times we read the words "when you pray", it is an assumption that a Christian, a Christ follower will pray. Two examples are given to us of how not to pray, praying so that you may be heard, or more likely seen by others, and the other being praying, "heaping up" empty phrases that sound good but have nothing behind them, the heart really not being in it. How many of us have been there?
We are called to get alone with God, behind closed doors, the image is of a prayer closet, where we can commune with God one on One. We are told that He will reward us for that.
Pastor James Smith wrote:
Prayer is . . .
an elevation of the soul towards its Maker,
a pressing sense of our own ignorance and infirmity,
a consciousness . . .
of the perfections of God,
of His readiness to hear,
of His power to help,
of His willingness to save.
Prayer is not an emotion produced in the senses, nor an effect wrought by
the imagination--but a determination of the will, an effusion of the heart.
Sincere prayer gives . . .
a tone to our conduct,
a law to our actions,
a rule to our thoughts,
a bridle to our speech,
a restraint to wrong passions,
a check to ill .
an elevation of the soul towards its Maker,
a pressing sense of our own ignorance and infirmity,
a consciousness . . .
of the perfections of God,
of His readiness to hear,
of His power to help,
of His willingness to save.
Prayer is not an emotion produced in the senses, nor an effect wrought by
the imagination--but a determination of the will, an effusion of the heart.
Sincere prayer gives . . .
a tone to our conduct,
a law to our actions,
a rule to our thoughts,
a bridle to our speech,
a restraint to wrong passions,
a check to ill .
May our prayers, may our "wish lists" from God be as such, a tone to our conduct, a law to our actions, a rule to our thoughts, a bridle to our speech,
a restraint to wrong passions expressed to Him one on One from our prayer closet.
a restraint to wrong passions expressed to Him one on One from our prayer closet.
Blessings,
Mike
Pray with Simplicity
5 "And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?
6 "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
7-13 "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.
Blessings, Mike Follow the verse of the day at mikesvotd.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment