When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Matthew 6:5-8
This is one of the best pieces of advice I have received about prayer: Keep it Simple, Keep it Real and Keep it Up.
Before Jesus teaches His disciples what is commonly known as the Lord's Prayer, He advises against making prayer over-complicated and definitely not for show. Instead, we should keep it simple. To go into a room by yourself, close the door, and spend time with your Father. An example of this simplicity is found in the following verse which we have studied for the last week. A prayer that is just 30 words long in its original Greek and takes just 30 seconds to say. Jesus reminds us that prayer can be natural and simple if we don't over think it.
There are no rules, no forced script, no formula, it is true that some little habits or rituals might help us but they don't mean God will hear us more or respond more favourably. Jesus invites us to approach our heavenly Father simply, directly and truthfully in the special and unique way He made us. If you are like me you can get quite fidgety so I go for a walk and pray, away from the chaos of home! I also write many of my prayers down to try remain focused and has the benefit of keeping a record to see the way God may have answered. Sit in silence and meditate of scripture, do a dance, play some worship music. What are some ways that you speak with your heavenly father?
PRAY: God, thank you for the unique and wonderful way that you made me. Please help me to pray simply, to remove complications from my prayer life, to shut the door to distraction and to talk freely with you. Amen
Today's contributor: Adrian Peterson
