Matthew 6:5-8
Silence and stillness before God (2 minutes)
Scripture reading
Scripture reading:
Matthew 6:5-8
5 “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. 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. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Devotional
In this passage Jesus identifies another way in which the attention seeking pharisees get it wrong. Praying should be one of the most sincere, pure and beautiful practises a human being can possibly partake in. The Pharisees have turned it into a means to an end. Once again if it is the praise of people they are after, God the father is happy to step back and let them receive their goal—the fleeting acknowledgement of man.
For those living the life of the kingdom of the heavens, prayer is the highest ministry we can do. It is to be done with the goal of communing with God himself and is a relational interaction, a deeply spiritual conversation not a performance. Babbling with many words is as unhelpful as paying trumpeters to announce your good deeds. The way of the kingdom is a different path.
Question to consider
What have you been learning about the power of less words in prayer through your times of stillness and silence?
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for your presence, love and guidance over my life today. I appreciate you as my heavenly Father, thank you for loving me. Amen.
Conclude with silence (2 minutes)
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