JESUS AND PRAYER #2 DON'T PRAY TO BE SEEN BY MEN

JESUS AND PRAYER #2

DON'T PRAY TO BE SEEN BY MEN

Jesus explained how the hypocrites in His day prayed. He said they loved to pray standing in the synagogue and in the corners of the streets, so that they could be seen of men. (Matthew 6:5-6). This does not mean that all our praying should be done privately. For instance, we can see the Early Church at prayer in the Acts of the Apostles praying together again and again. 

What Jesus was saying is simply this: There is a possibility in public praying, when people are gathered together to pray in a group, that we might be like the hypocrites, only praying publicly to be seen of men, so that men will think we are really spiritual or prayer warriors. We can fool people sometimes, but we can't fool God. God, who sees in secret, is the one who hears and answers our prayers. 

Certainly, Jesus did not say not to pray publicly, nor with others in a group. If Jesus had said that, then He violated His own teaching, for Jesus Himself prayed with His own disciples. No, the thought is simply one of motive- not to pray to be seem of men. You must have private prayer life of your own if you are going to develop and grow spiritually and enjoy fellowship with God. 

Build a private prayer life of your own. Also, we should pray with our families, particularly if we have children and have family devotions. We should offer thanks for every single act of God. You need to have regular prayer times, not just those times when one is driven to prayer out of despair because of trying circumstances.

Your own private prayer life is really the place where you are going to grow spiritually. That is where you are going to learn to pray and have sweet fellowship and communion with God. But too many times this is where people fail. So let me encourage you to maintain the practice of getting alone with God. 

Word-drill/JESUS and PRAYER

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