Calling Out to God #25

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus did as much talking about what not to do as what to do as His followers. That included prayer. In Matthew 6 He says:
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Jesus gives two different "dont's" here. Don't be like the hypocrites - people who say they are a part of God's family - even prominent members in it - but really are not, and don't be like the Gentiles - outsiders - who think they are better and smarter than God's family. The first group wants to be seen and the second wants to be heard by other people so they are the focus of attention: "look at him; listen to that guy talk." Jesus says "No! If you really believe that you have a loving heavenly Father, He is your only audience, and there is nothing you can do or say to impress Him. You don't have to get His attention; He is watching you all the time. You don't have to say 'just the right words'; you have to have the right, humble, seeking heart. Your don't have a distant "god" who has to be convinced to give you what you want; you have a loving Father Who knows what you need better than you do, and is just waiting for you to come and ask. Don't put on a show; come to let Him show how much He loves you.