Jan 14, 2024 "How Should we Pray?" (Matthew 6:5-8)

 

How Should we Pray?

Matthew 6:5-8

 

Jesus tells us not to be hypocrites in verse 5 .

Matthew 6:5 ESV

[5]  “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  

 

 Jesus is not against corporate prayer or representative prayers. Jesus is against those who are boasting. Jesus tells us instead to pray in secret. The real answer is in verse 6.

 

Matthew 6:6 ESV

[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.

 

Jesus wants us to have a relationship with God. God will hear us and answer our prayers. This time is to be meaningful and genuine and not just babbling and repetition.

 

Matthew 6:7 ESV

[7]  “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

 

God does not ignore us when we pray like that, but it is not the way to have a conversation with your father who knows you.

 

Matthew 6:8 ESV

[8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

 

We may ask why should we pray if God knows what we need? It is to have a conversation with God. If we really believe that God is alive and your God the Father is in heaven, we would want to have a conversation with God.

 

In representative prayers, some people write their prayers down and read them. Some argue this is not praying whereas others see this a message to God. It is a conversation with God.

 

Asking for the same things again and again in prayer is not wrong if it is done in the right spirit. The right spirit is keeping in contact with God and building up your relationship with God. The wrong spirit is just wanting the desired situation or object.  

 

God the Father is calling you. He wants you to have a better relationship with you. We need to meet with God  

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