Keep it Secret!- In His Word
Another thought on prayer; don't pray for show.
So many people today like to pray in front of a big crowd
for all the wrong reasons. It is not okay to allow pride to push you to pray
before others. Instead, if you must pray in front of others do it humbly.
Better yet go off by yourselves to pray. Don't allow the whole world to know
your prayers. Sure, the people who ask you to pray can hear it but only to
agree, or to pray for them. The idea being when they call on the elders of the
Church to pray for them? Then it’s okay
to pray in a group.
There are group prayers that are mentioned in the Word of
God, or your Bible. There was a group of women who met at a river to pray. So
we know it is okay to pray with groups, just not for vain glory.
When you pray, don’t
be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the
synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the
reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the
door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees
everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:5-6
Best of all pray in your quiet place where you and God can
be one on One with no distractions. There is a saying that is out and about
that some maybe would call a 'meme' that say’s "Worry about nothing, pray
about everything." If you are alone in your quiet place, then you have
less chance to worry that someone else will hear or influence your prayers and
you will have a better chance of opening up heart to heart with Him.
Finally remember that our God is a jealous God; He desires
our undivided attention. We have to admit that there is a ton of stuff that
will get in our way of praying if we allow them to. Think of the last time you
prayed a solid prayer, no distractions, no falling asleep and not following someone’s
directions on what to pray for. If it was hard to recall, you probably need to
go spend some time with Him soon. Do it anyway!
This week let’s just go find a place to pray each day that
no one else can hear us and either in our thought prayers or aloud, just spend
precious time basking in His presence. In Jesus' name.
