Matthew 6:5
“And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who pretend piety by praying publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. Truly, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you and pray to your Father secretly, and your Father, who knows your secrets, will reward you.
7-8 “Don’t recite the same prayer over and over as the heathen do, who think prayers are answered only by repeating them again and again. Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
9 “Pray along these lines: ‘Our Father in heaven, we honour your holy name. 10 We ask that your kingdom will come now. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. 11 Give us our food again today, as usual, 12 and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. 13 Don’t bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. Amen.’ 14-15 Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.
Jesus makes relationship with God very simple (not easy though) and puts the emphasis on things done in secret.
The snare with prayer and worship done publicly is that, as frail humans, it can turn into a show to impress others.
When it's just you and God there's no point in pretending, because God sees your heart and knows your motives - you can't fool Him!
If your prayer time has become dry and a bit of a ritual without meaning, try getting alone with Jesus and keep it simple - just like Jesus taught us in the passage above.
Strip back any unnecessary words and pat phrases - speak as friend to friend from your heart.
What you pray in secret with an uncluttered heart, before Jesus, will be answered.
Let Jesus take centre stage in your life!
God loves simple, secret servants!
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