How to Un-bore your Prayers
REFLECT & RESPOND:
“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. Matthew 6:5-8
Prayer is our personal way of communicating to God, for ourselves and for others. It is a dialogue between a loving, caring Father and his child. If you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are that child to whom God is willing and ready to listen.
Matthew 6 teaches us How to Pray and How Not to Pray.
1. How NOT to pray: Don’t pray to beg or impress God. No need for formal words. Don’t pray to impress people. Don’t pray repetitive words or phrases you don’t even mean or understand.
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2. How to Pray: Pray by speaking out what is in your heart. Pray with faith in in the truths and promises of God’s word. Pray on behalf of others.
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This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13
The revolutionary message of Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13 is: * Above all, pray, because you have a Heavenly Father! You are not an orphan that has to fend for yourself in this world! You have the ears of the most powerful Being in the Universe and his hands that can shape the world.
Question: Is it easy or difficult for you to pray?
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Is there a pressing concern that you can share to God now?
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Question: Think of 2-3 friends who also need prayer and bring their needs to God now.
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Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that I am not a spiritual orphan because I will always have you. I am forever your child. You are my Father and the most powerful person in the Universe. When fear or discouragement grips me, remind me that your strength is greater than my greatest challenges.
Teach me how to pray like Jesus. Teach me how to talk to You and how to listen. When there is sin or unforgiveness blocking my heart, show me what it is, so I can repent of it. Most of all, give me a willing heart that prays for others as well.
May I experience on a daily basis, the pleasure of spending time with You in prayer. In Jesus name, Amen.
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