30 Days of Prayer. Empty words.
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Transcript
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Jesus. Matthew 6:7, 8. Hi, it’s Nathan, and this is Day 7 of 30 Days of Prayer. Ok, so I don’t imagine you regularly walk past a temple to some Ancient Greek god and hear the priests chanting long, repetitive prayers. But if you listen to your own prayers, you might find that you sound an awful lot like an ancient, chanting priest. I mean, really, how many of your prayers sound like that whiny toddler in the grocery store insisting on a shiny new toy? Be honest, now. How many times are you actually thinking deeply about what you’re even saying? When was the last time you said something different? Had a conversation that wasn’t a list of expectations or demands? Or needs? Or sorrows? God is a person, longing for fellowship with a person—you—NOT a heavenly gum ball machine into which we press one request after another. God knows the list before you talk to him about it—or even get it on your list. Our prayers are NEVER news to him. That’s why Jesus says, ‘Hey, God knows all that stuff—he knew it before you asked him!’ The implication: prayer is not to inform God or grease the answer-machine. The point of prayer is relationship. God really, truly wants to connect with you. He does want to know what matters to you—but not because it somehow persuades him to give or informs him of some new turn of events. He wants to know because what’s on your heart matters to him. He wants to know because sharing the heart is the stuff of relationship.
