True Prayer

Today's reading comes from the book of Matthew. All of today's readings can be found here.

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then 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 this day 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 evil.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." -Matthew 6:7-15 (ESV)

What is the heart of prayer? What is it's meaning? Does it have a clear purpose? We see Jesus in today's passage telling his disciples about true prayer and how it manifests itself in the life of a believer.

Jesus starts out the passage by explaining that prayer is not about what you say, but about where your heart is at when you pray it. He comments that the gentiles (the non-Jews) believe that their prayers will be answered because of the syntax they use - believing that God is a capricious being who needs to be manipulated into blessing His people, indeed a serious misconception that we see a lot even today.

When was the last time you heard someone say that 'if you just do this, or pray this prayer, or believe this doctrine, God will bless you.'? This stance implies that God's arm must be turned and we must have the right 'key' to get what we need from God, but Jesus here clearly denies this idea flatly, saying that the Lord already knows what we need and we know that He delights in giving good and perfect gifts to those in Christ Jesus in accordance with His will. So don't buy into the lie that 'if you just do this, then God will bless you'. It is not a question of syntax, it is a question of where your heart is at.

The heart of this passage, however, is found in the prayer that Jesus offers up to the Father, a sweet and heart-felt prayer that glorifies the Father and submits to His will, but is this how we pray? Who are our prayers focused on - us, or Him? When was the last time you sat down and truly thanked God for what He has done and for His sovereign will?

I am not saying that all of your prayers must be adoration, or confession, or thanksgiving, or supplication, but Jesus shows us here that when we pray it should not be a heavenly wish-list, but simply an outpouring of what is in our hearts. If you are excited about something - tell the Father. If you are nervous about something - tell the Father. If you are in need of something - tell the Father. Let your prayer life be a direct outpouring of the state of your heart, for it is then that you will more fully find fellowship with the Father - when you approach Him not as an adversary or heavenly gift-horse but properly as your Father, as your Daddy.

Heavenly Father you are so good to me. Thank you.


-MD Letteney