Thursday 30/08/12

Matthew 6:5-8 ESV

"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.  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.  "

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

These verses are about how we should not pray, and how we ought to pray. Pray is like talking with God. Not just about seeking help and protection, we can pray to talk with Him about many things, like with a Father.

Nevertheless, we need to check our motive. Praying is not to show off our spiritual & religiousness to other people. If we pray with that in mind, we will get nothing from God, praises from others will be our reward. When our motive is wrong, God will not hear us.

Also, we need to pray to communicate with our Heavenly Father, not to beg repeatedly. God always care for us and know what we need most and what is best for us, more than ourselves. So we need to trust in His goodness, ask what we wish, know that He hears, and continue the conversation to other things.