“But when you pray, go to your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.
When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long.
Do not be like them. Your father already knows what you need before you ask him.”
(Matthew 6:6-8 Today’s English Version)
I used to think praying is for wimps. Speak to someone who is unseen and listen to see if God will respond. No way.
I have to write since becoming a Christian, I have prayed more about everything that I could have ever imagined.
Long prayers, short prayers, angry prayers, scared prayers, asking prayers, thankful prayers, forgiveness prayers.
You name it and I have prayed about it.
You are probably wondering why I have become such a believer in prayer.
Prayer works.
I wrote those three verses from Matthew 6 before the Lord’s Prayer in verse 9. Jesus was teaching about prayer in the first part of Matthew 6.
Jesus taught that one should pray in secret and he will reward for you for it.
Jesus taught that one should not pray in meaningless repetition or a long list of names.
Jesus taught that one should pray even though the Father already knows what you need.
What that means is….
Prayer is conversation. Prayer is listening. Prayer is silence. Prayer is asking.
Most of all, prayer is having a connection to the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
I can tell you that prayer has meant everything to me in my Christian walk. I urge anyone (believer or not) to do it when you can and as often as you can.
I will guarantee your life will be changed forever.
Lastly, I will leave you the words from MC Hammer’s popular rap song from the 90’s.
That’s word, we pray
We got to pray
Just to make it today
I said we pray, ah, yeah, pray
We got to pray
Just to make it today
That’s word, we pray
It’s the simplest thing to do, but sometimes it’s hardest thing to do as well.
Wonderful. He is our Father, and we His children. Who when they speak to their father, repeats and chants? He is not some distant being wanting servitude and treating you as some undeserving pagan. Many churches view this relationship as such. Maybe they themselves do not beieve it, but it is clearly visible in action by ” chanting” man made creeds, professions, traditions. He calls us priests, friends, and best of all children.