Jesus is speaking out
strongly against showing off our religion.
He is making it very clear that a person of genuine faith does not need
to promote it or broadcast it. Genuine
faith shows naturally through the way we live and speak.
We like to be around
people who really know how to pray.
There is just something that seems to set them apart from us. We equate how they pray with the godliness of
their hearts. What we don’t often
consider is that how a person prays doesn’t always tell the true story of their
heart. Just like people can imitate
faith without being saved, people can imitate prayer without being right with
God, or even saved.
Jesus here emphasizes
the importance of private prayer. When
we pray when no one is around, it is noticed by God. God hears us when we pray from a genuine
heart, no matter who may, or may not, hear us when we pray. In fact, there is great value in prayer
without words. We can be surrounded by a
great host of people and pray without anyone knowing it. The Lord listens to the heart more than He
does the words.
Words sometimes simply
fail us. There are times when we don’t
know what to say or how to say it. But,
the Lord knows. When we lift our hearts
to Him without words, He hears us and answers our prayers. Reach out to the Lord and He will reach out
to you. Don’t pray to be heard by man;
pray to be heard by God. If others hear
you when you pray and join you as you pray, it is good. It is also good if only you and God hear you
when you pray.
Praying to be heard
by man are not prayers heard by God.
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