Secret Missions with God: Pray
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 5:5-8
In Jesus’s day, everyone knew who the religious leaders were. Not only were they decked out in special garb, but they made their presence and “righteousness” known wherever they went. As Jesus teaches during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), he tells his disciples that these religious leaders have it all backwards when it comes to giving, prayer, and fasting.
Jesus criticizes the Pharisee’s style of prayer saying “they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” The Pharisee’s main goal was not conversation and communion with God, but to gain approval from others.
What is so tragic here is that Jesus says they have already received their reward. The Pharisee’s might be trying to ask God for things, but because of their misaligned hearts, all they will every get is the praise they sought from others.
Jesus offers us a better way. He says, But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Jesus doesn’t need us to pray with big flashy gestures or terribly showy words. In fact, he teaches his disciples to pray what is called The Lord’s Prayer, which goes like this:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
My challenge to you is this: Spend one week praying the Lord’s prayer. Find a quiet spot, just you and God, and keep it simple. Share with God what is on your heart, and trust that, like Jesus says, He already knows what you need before you ask Him.