Prayer (part 1)

Matthew 6:5-8

⁵ “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. ⁶ 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. ⁷ 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.( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:5%20-%208&version=NIV)

Prayer is a very sacred and precious time with the Lord.  I love to pray and have sweet communion with my Lord but I haven’t always wanted to pray out loud.  I believe these verses are the reason why I sometimes hesitate.  I have found that if I am more nervous about the people around me than I am about going to the throne of Grace, I probably should just pray silently.   We should pray because that is what God expects of us not because of what people expect of us. 

Have you ever visited with someone who talks on and on and never gives you a chance to say anything?  Dentist are really good at this, they put their fingers in your mouth and then start talking!  You can’t say a word but just sit and listen and then they ask you a question, now how are you going to answer?  Sometimes I feel that is what we do with God, we sit and talk and talk and talk, all the while we have our fingers in His mouth and He can only listen.  Do we take the time to sit and listen to what He has to say?  You say, how can I do that, I have never heard His audible voice?  One way is to read His word.  So many times when I am seeking Him I pick up my Bible and His words are right there for me.  I don’t believe it is a coincidence, I don’t believe in them.  I believe the Lord directs me to the scripture that I need to read.  I have found that sometimes you can pick up a hymnal and start reading the words to those wonderful hymns of old and God can speak to you.  I believe the key is seeking Him, not just talking to Him.

Our Father in Heaven loves for us to come to Him alone, not for show but to be genuine with Him.  Take a close look at verse 8, He already knows what we need.  If He already knows what we need why should we pray?  That is a simple answer because He loves for us to commune with Him.  God is a God of relationships, He wants us to seek Him and put our trust in Him and Him alone.   

Next time you pray, go to Him in secret.  Ask Him to reveal His words to you.  Then, take the time to stop, look, and listen for He has something to tell you.  Seek Him and He will draw near to you.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila