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.
Jesus encourages us to keep our prayers simple but also to Keep It Real. Prayers that are honest, open and at times raw. There is a great example found in Luke 18:9-14 where Jesus tells a story of a Pharisee and a tax collector. One who is religious, pious and holy, and knows it, the other is an outcast, broken and a sinner, and knows it. It is the tax collector that bows his head not feeling worthy and cries, "O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner." He knows that he is not worthy of God's mercy yet asks for it anyway. He is real about himself, he is real about his situation and he is real as he speaks with his God in heaven.
What situation, problem or internal struggle is it time to be real with God about? Claim the promise today: "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
PRAY: God, thank you that you accept and hear the real me. Thank you that you welcome the real me and invite me to be raw, honest and real with you. God have mercy on me and my situation. Amen.
Today's contributor: Adrian Peterson
