Prayer is one of the ways we connect with God and express our love, gratitude, and concern for Christ, ourselves, and our loved ones, whether family, church, or community. Our prayers to God provide us with a sense of peace and comfort during our struggles and strengthen our relationship with the Father.
In Matthew 6:6, Jesus teaches us to pray in secret; the verse explains that 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 openly.
It’s important to obey God and pray privately, which shows our Father that we respect Him. Think of it this way, if you were going to have a heart-to-heart conversation with your dad, would you chant words repeatedly out in the open in the hopes everyone would see and hear you? Of course not, and neither should we go to God and pray to our almighty and loving Creator. This is why in Matthew 6:7: Jesus tells us that, when we pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Prayer is not something to showcase; it’s an intimate conversation with our Father, and we speak to Him as we speak regularly, and repeating words in the form of chanting is strictly forbidden. After all, don’t we want to obey God and do things His way instead of our own? We aren’t very good at problem-solving, but God can do anything—all the more reason to worship and praise the King of the Heavens and Earth.
That said, check out Philippians 4:6, where we, as Christians, are also encouraged to make our requests known to God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. The verse says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
This text leads us to believe that when we pray, we open our hearts to God and allow Him to guide us. At the same time, God can alleviate our tension and apprehension about a situation when we enter into prayer without worrying about presenting all things to Him. God isn’t out to judge or condemn us, but He is a loving Father, and through Jesus, His Son, we are blessed to have the opportunity to run to the Father and pray.
How good is our GOD?
Indeed it’s perfectly okay to humble ourselves and get on our knees and ask for help while at the same time glorifying God in Thanksgiving and praise for always being there to listen and answer. Too often, people pray without listening in response; Jesus says in the Bible, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27).
That said, we can confidently trust that God speaks to us through prayer and His Word, and by praying regularly, God allows us to receive His guidance and direction. I encourage opening up the word during prayer and following David’s prayer if you run out of things to say. Many important figures in history cried out to God during difficult times, and learning what to say is helpful while you ease into a proper routine and your own heart’s voice.
I love Jeremiah 33:3, In this verse, God promises to answer us when we call on Him and seek Him with all our hearts. But again, prayer is not just about asking God for things but also about listening and allowing Him to speak to our hearts. It is a way to surrender our will to His and to trust Him with all our cares and concerns.
So, in closing, and even if you do not pray regularly, I encourage you to learn to trust Jesus today and pray. Begin to pray daily and fervently and watch your Heavenly Father change your heart, and lift some of the pressure. At the same time, prayer enriches your life. Please don’t wait until tomorrow because there is no better time than today. How about right now?
Oh, and one last thing, In Matthew 6:5-6 Jesus says, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, 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.”
Just a little reminder of our Savior’s direction; God Bless you, and please, don’t stop praying.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Christine’s Cornerstone
Featured Image by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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