Have you ever wondered if God hears your prayers? I must admit there have been times when I have had serious doubts about the legitimacy of my prayer life. Perhaps you have had some doubts as well. It is frustrating to pray, as best we know how, and still nothing seems to happen.
Jesus taught His followers how to pray by starting with what they were used to in their “churches” and exposing it for what it was, shallow! He said, “When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seem by people.” (Matthew 5:5) “These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8) “But when you pray…pray to your Father…in secret.” (Matthew 6:6)
My eyes were opened to this truth after reading the book, “The Prayer of Jesus,” by Hank Hanegraaff. He writes an entire chapter about the principle of secret prayer. I feel very strongly that secret prayer must be the consistent habit of a Christian who has a close walk with the Lord.
The key for me is the phase “they love.” It clearly says that hypocrites love to pray in front of people. My prayer for us today is that we will “love” to pray in secret, remembering the promise of Matthew 6:6, “When you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
In our worship time today let’s spend some time in secret prayer.
Jesus taught His followers how to pray by starting with what they were used to in their “churches” and exposing it for what it was, shallow! He said, “When you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seem by people.” (Matthew 5:5) “These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8) “But when you pray…pray to your Father…in secret.” (Matthew 6:6)
My eyes were opened to this truth after reading the book, “The Prayer of Jesus,” by Hank Hanegraaff. He writes an entire chapter about the principle of secret prayer. I feel very strongly that secret prayer must be the consistent habit of a Christian who has a close walk with the Lord.
The key for me is the phase “they love.” It clearly says that hypocrites love to pray in front of people. My prayer for us today is that we will “love” to pray in secret, remembering the promise of Matthew 6:6, “When you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
In our worship time today let’s spend some time in secret prayer.
If you are looking for prayer requests, here’s one straight from the mission field in China, where believers are spreading the gospel in spite of harsh persecution.
“URUMQI, CHINA (oo-room-chee). Pray for B, a young student who has heard the Good News in different ways during these past months and is currently reading the Book. Pray that the Holy Spirit will open her heart as she reads and that she will find the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
– Taken from Today’s Prayer Requests at CompassionNet.
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