When You Pray

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:5,6

I used to think that this verse was about establishing an actual place in my home that was private and hidden from the eyes of people. That’s not a bad idea. If you don’t have an established place and time of the day you spend some time talking with the God of heaven you are missing something really important. The idea that Jesus is teaching here is bigger than that though. He’s talking about my attitude when I pray.

My attitude when I pray allows God to determine the reward I seek. It’s clear that the reward for pride is public acclaim. A prideful person praying is hoping people will notice and be impressed at the deeply spiritual person he or she wants people to believe that they are.

What should my attitude be and what is my desired reward? Quite honestly, the attitude is clearly presented, the reward isn’t. Humility is the attitude that gives me the best reward. It’s that attitude that demonstrates to God I’m not looking for human approval and seeking to cause others to think more highly of me than who I truly am.

The reward though is this, God comes near and communicates with me. Think of David, the Israelite king of the golden age who God spoke so highly of. It was from his pen and his voice in a moment of true repentance he pleaded, “Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11)

That God would come near and speak to a person is the reward of a humble man or women who prays seeking God’s face regardless of what anyone else might think. I want a reward like that.

Prayer for today:

Father, I seek your face. Spend time with me today as I carve time out of my life for you and you alone. Receive me as I seek you. Speak to me as I grow quiet enough to listen. Reveal to me your presence as I learn from the Bible who you are and how you meet people. May I be one of the people you reward with your presence as I humbly seek you. Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Wes