Yesterday, we looked at the prayer Jesus taught his disciples.
Before teaching that pattern or pathway for prayer, Jesus gave these important instructions:
Matthew 6:1-8. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Here is a quick summary of these helpful prayer tips:
1. Don't pray in order to be seen or to impress people.
2. Pray in private, in a quiet, undistracted environment.
3. Your Father sees your prayers and will reward you for them. Prayer does make a difference!
4. Don't babble on and on when you pray. Talk to your Father as to a person who knows you, including what you need. Be relational not mechanical.
That's prayer, the Jesus way.