By Pastor Alex Ruelo
Everybody prays. Even those who do not believe in God pray. In times of emergency, prayer saves people from dire distress. Even the secular world, talks and even sings about prayer. MC Hammer said, “we gotta pray just to make it today.” Bon Jovi said we are “livin’ on a prayer.” But what do you get when you pray? Some pray and get what they want. Some do not. Sometimes, God answers your prayers in a different way.
Matthew 6:5-8 says, ““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 the Gentiles 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!”
Jesus asks you to pray like this in Matthew 6:9-13:
“Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Don’t pray.
Don’t pray to get attention. (V.5) - Some people pray too much and say so many things. Some may mean it, but some do not. Some pray for attention too. Pray from your heart. When you understand God, your prayer comes naturally. You do not have to use an extensive vocabulary and you do not have to make it very long either. That will surely get the people’s attention!
Don’t pray like it’s magic. (V.7) - God does not always answer prayers instantly. Sometimes He does, most of the time, He does not. Prayer is a relationship with God. It is not wrong to pray for something over and over again. Just make sure that your words still mean something to you. God owns everything. Do not limit Him.
Don;t pray to impress God. (V.8) - God knows what you will ask for in prayer even before you ask of it. You cannot fool Him. Prayer is your fellowship with God.
How to pray:
Pray to know more of God. (V.9) - Prayer is personal. Jesus taught everyone how to pray because He assumes that you will talk to the Father. It is important to have fellowship with Him when you pray. But everyone needs to come together to grow in prayer too.
Pray to honor God. (Psalm 50:7, 21) - Even those who have not heard about God know that there is a higher being. He is the most powerful of all so you have to honor Him in your prayer.
Pray to get deep with God. - In the hustle and bustle of everything that you do on earth, pray. It is for God and not for anyone else. Pray to know Him better.
When was the last time you prayed? If you cannot remember when, you have a huge problem. Pray because God knows you.
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