So when Jesus gives us an example of how to pray, maybe we should pay attention, right? Like... I love Jesus, but sometimes he can be a bit vague. And he asks a lot of confusing questions. So, i guess he figured it was pretty important for us to know how to pray if he just says, "Pray then like this..." and gives us an example.
We'll be looking at Matthew 6:5-8.
Don't Do It Like This
Jesus starts out by telling us how not to pray. He says don't be like the hypocrites. If we're being honest with ourselves, we're all hypocrites from time to time. So instead of reading this and thinking of other people... have the courage to think of yourself.
The hypocrites pray for the benefit of an audience. This is pride. It is something we all struggle with. Pride, in the context of prayer, plays itself out in one of two ways. One, we pray loud, audacious, religious prayers so everyone will think we are very righteous. Or two, we don't pray.
More often then not, in the circles i observe, it is the second type of pride that is most rampant. Often times we feel like we don't have the right words to say. We can't speak "christianese" all that well... We feel like people will think we're stupid if we don't say the right thing while we are praying in public. They will think we aren't very good Christians.
The problem? If we're thinking about how others think of us, we're not thinking of how God thinks of us. Its a fear-of-man thing. Pride. When we pray, we're talking to the God of the universe, not the people sitting around us. If we think of those around us before God, that is pride and idolatry. Jesus says not to pray like that.
Shut The Door And Pray
He then tells us to pray in secret, with the door shut - which is kind of weird, as if you notice later in the passage Jesus uses words such as "Our" and "Us" indicating the prayer is public.
Jesus is showing us how to avoid praying in a prideful way. He says that our prayer lives should be developed in private. He's saying, first, learn how to pray when its just you and Me in a room.
Seriously guys... if you're not getting time alone with the Father on a daily basis... you are probably one of those hypocrites Jesus was talking about earlier. If you are a new Christian, this is of the utmost importance to developing your spiritual life.
Its a discipline, though. The Bible speaks of those who "Labor fervently in prayer..." or who "agonize in prayer..." And that should be our goal. To be one who labors in prayer. Let me be clear - it will take a lifetime of learning to be like Christ.
So some practical advice. Start out your day by rolling out of your bed onto your knees and saying a short prayer before you even get to your devotions. Like once a week.. get some serious time alone with God. Get out of the city and into the woods... hike. talk to your heavenly Father. If you commute to school or work, redeem that. Talk to Him on the way. Lunch break? maybe once a week you need to skip food and spend the time in prayer and fasting.
So What About This Reward?
Jesus says the Father will reward us as our prayer lives become better. This does not mean we will get everything we ask God for. Frankly, we ask God for some really stupid crap. But more importantly... the point is this...
Prayer most often serves to align our hearts with Gods heart. Sometimes prayer will move the hand of God. But more often than not, it will serve to align our hearts with God's.
As we pray more, we get a deep relationship with God. This is our reward. This is why we pray.
I'll get to the actual prayer later.. haha
Recommended resources: Pray Like Jesus Series, Mars Hill
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