Prayer should be sincere, simple and sure
October 25, 2008 (Saturday)
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus discussed prayer (Matthew 6:5-8). He emphasized that prayer needs to be sincere, simple, and sure.
Jesus said our prayers should be sincere. Some of the religious people made quite a show of their prayers. They stood in the synagogue or on the street corners and prayed aloud for all to hear so that the hearers would believe they were holy people. They did it for show, and Jesus said they were hypocrites. A true prayer seeks the commendation of God, not of people.
Jesus said our prayers should be simple. One need not be greatly concerned about his posture, standing or kneeling, for it is what’s in the heart that matters. A prayer can be offered anywhere, but public prayer to be seen and heard by people is not real prayer. Secret prayer is to be offered in secret, where only God hears. Long, wordy, repetitive prayers make no impression on God, who knows what we need before we ask.
Jesus said our prayers should be sure. We should pray as an expression of our faith that that God is our Heavenly Father and hears our every thought and word. Let there be no doubts as we pray. When we pray, our faith is increased, for we prove to ourselves that we believe, by the act of praying.
Jesus wants us to pray sincerely, from our hearts. He wants us to keep our prayers simple, as a child would speak to a parent. He wants us to be very sure that God hears and answers prayer.
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Matthew 6:5-8 (The Message):
“And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.”