5“When you pray, don’t be like the fhypocrites 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.6But 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.God doesn’t want us to pray because it is socially popular. He doesn’t want us to pray so others will notice us. No, look at what He desires. He desires that you be alone with Him. Just you and your Father, in a room, alone. If you go alone with someone to a private place, do you not eventually become close friends with that person because you have trusted each other with the intimate details of your lives. That is what your heavenly Father wants with you.
7“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.8Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!9“Pray like this:
Again, Jesus is making it so clear. He isn’t looking for blind repetition. He wants heart-to-heart conversation. He is about to teach his disciples how to pray, but even this prayer he obviously doesn’t expect us often repeated without thought. It is a most beautiful prayer guide, and we can often say the words, but let’s think about them and try to mean them, because Jesus tells clearly that just spewing out words means nothing.
Once during Lent I made the habit of praying by going to a quiet room and bring 2 chairs, one for me, and one for Jesus. Perhaps that would be good to try. It brought reality and closeness to my prayer time.
Our gFather in heaven,
I am talking to my dad, my real dad, my perfect dad who loves me like only a parent can love a child.
may your name be kept holy.
Dad, I know you are so good an holy. Help me dad to know your holiness and live in it and reflect and not defile it. You alone are good, cover me in your goodness.
10May your Kingdom come soon.
Dad, I so want you to finally rule all the universe. To live forever in you peace and love and holiness, that is my life’s desire.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
But right now Dad, I need your will done in my life this day. Please, help me to walk in step with you on your path in my simple life of trials and boring tasks and problems and mistakes. Please Dad, my desires are foolish and ignorant. Help me follow you.
11Give us today the food we need,
I don’t need everything I see Dad. I want to learn to trust you so just give me what I really need this day, and let me trust you for tomorrow and all of the tomorrows of my life. And I don’t mean just physical food Dad. I know you are spiritual. I mean help me learn to depend on you for the immortal food of immortal life: love, forgiveness, peace – in short – Jesus.
12and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
I can’t really believe I’m saying this again Dad. I need you to forgive all my sins, so I am here a now forgiving every one who has ever hurt me or will ever hurt me, directly and indirectly, the rest of my life. Even that person who hurt my child so deeply – forgiven. Even if that person who hurt my child so deeply is me – forgiven. I let it all go Dad because I know I need you to forgive me.
but rescue us from the evil one.
Dad, we both know how weak I am. Keep me away from temptation, and when I wonder into it, help me run back to you. Satan is real and he is like a lion waiting to pounce on me. I have no chance without you Dad, and nothing to fear with you.
14“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.15But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Can it be any clearer…or scarier… than that!
16“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.17But when you fast, icomb your hair and wash your face.18Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*
