Hello Sweet Friends,
Today’s Reading … Mark 2-3, John 5, Luke 6, and Matthew 12:1-21, 5-7
Have you ever noticed that most people don’t want to be the one to pray out loud in a group? Have you ever been the person who does not want to pray out loud in a group? I have! I am not sure if it is because praying feels like a very private and intimate act and we are uncomfortable sharing that with others or if it is because we are afraid of “doing it wrong.” How is your private prayer life? Are you eager to sit at the feet of God? Is He the first place you go with joy, pain, excitement or anxiety? I have to admit that prayer has always been a struggle for me. As you may have gathered by this point, I am much more comfortable in motion than I am being still, trusting and listening.
Wow…that takes my breath away. The privilege of coming before the God of the Universe, laying my heart at His feet, unencumbered in anyway and somehow, I am resistant. This has the lies of Satan written all over it. I am so thankful for the truth in today’s reading to combat the lies in my mind with the truth of God’s heart.
“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 others” (Matthew 6:5a). Prayer is an exchange between a gracious Father and an expectant child. The heart of the child is all that matters to the Father. I do not think that this verse is in any way condemning praying in public. Instead, it is condemning prayer driven by the desire for the approval and recognition of man. This truth actually releases us from the anxiety of praying in a group because it reminds us that it is the very same act as praying in solitude. We are simply laying our hearts before our Father. He is our only audience, no matter how many others are listening.
“When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words” (Matthew 6:7). When my boys were little, one of my favorite things was how they mispronounced words. Those sweet young voices, speaking in their precious little baby language melted my heart and highlighted their innocence in a tender way. I believe that God feels the same way about our prayers to Him. He is not interested in seminary level words, He is not looking for us to impress Him with our wisdom and eloquence. He wants us to come to Him, in our innocence, and communicate right where we are. Our young voices, speaking in our baby language melt His heart. We are His children and He loves us, our voices and our prayers. Just talk to Him, He is listening and waiting to pour love over you.
“…for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8b). This verse tripped me up for many years. If He already knows, why am I asking? It was just recently that the Lord revealed an answer to my heart, once again through the lives of my children. My oldest son is a fiercely independent 12 year old who is ready to take on the world. I often say that I am just happy to have a front row seat to his life! Recently, he encountered a difficult situation at school. I already knew about it and that, on his own, he had been successful in resolving the issue. I waited, hoping that he would come to me about it because while he handled it, he is still only twelve and I knew that he could use an extra hug and some encouragement from his mama. That afternoon he hung pretty close to me and eventually shared the story. I was thrilled, not because I needed the information, I already had that. I was thrilled because he chose to share his life with me, to trust me and because it took our relationship to the next level. It was in that moment that I understood prayer on a new level as well. God doesn’t need the information, He doesn’t need anything but when we choose to come to Him, to share our lives with Him and to trust Him, our relationship grows and deepens. We are able to see His love for us in new ways when we faithfully spend time in prayer.
Satan, you have no power here. We know the truth. We will go boldly before the throne of God, with one audience and our childlike words, we will pour out our hearts and grow in relationship with our perfect heavenly Father. Thank you Lord. We love you.
Love you all,
Kinsee
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return empty, but accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”(Isaiah 55:11).
