God Centered Prayer

Matthew 6:5-8 “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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 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. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
 
JESUS continues with his teaching point of the Father’s constant knowledge of who you are. Here are some points on a God-centered prayer life.
   One of the Bible’s shortest verses is 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray continually.” In that epistle, the apostle Paul urges Jesus’ disciples to be in constant conversation with the Holy God. Here Jesus teaches us about an appropriate way to engage in that conversation. Jesus condemns the Jewish leaders’ hypocrisy in their public prayers. Then points us to a true heat-to-heart relationship with the Father.
   Jesus does not condemn public prayer. We know Jesus prayed before thousands and with his disciples. He also prayed alone. Jesus’ prayer purposes included petitions for the Father’s care on the disciples. He asked for the Father’s glory to be revealed in the healing of the sick and raising Lazarus from the dead. He prayed to seek the Father’s will. In contrast, Jewish religious leaders often spoke long and loud self-focused public prayers. Their prayers were not a conversation to care others and to seek God’s will but to tell the world, “I am holy.”
When Jesus said, “They have received their reward in full” he declares their payment for their sin will be God’s judgment on their pride. God will cut down with one word those who try to rise above him with self-centered words.
   Jesus and the apostles affirm prayer is to be a regular, real conversation between you and God. Speak to him with pointed praise, thanksgiving and supplication. Confess your sins and seek his will. Join also with others in public meetings to pray together. The Bible has many such times when God’s people especially realized they needed God’s intervention. Sit quietly with him in private. Pray God’s will is done in your life. Whenever and wherever you pray, be real. Be prepared to respond to his answers.
 
Colossians 4:2-3 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.