The context of this passage is similar to what we looked at last week about fasting. About the danger of making a great show to impress others rather than drawing close to God.
Jesus starts by saying, When you pray.
It was a given that people would pray, but it was more a question how to pray, and with what motives. Jesus was not impressed by those who made a great outward show of praying and those who he described as babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Praying was not to be a public demonstration of how pious we are, but a private and personal encounter with our heavenly Father. And Jesus gives us wonderful guidance here – he said, 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Then Jesus gave us a wonderful blue print for prayer – he said,
9 ‘This, then, is how you should pray:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
And 2000 years on we are still using the same prayer. Some of the words may be slightly different, but the content and meaning is just the same. And we say this same prayer together every week. And there is something about joining together in prayer. It encourages a spiritual bond between us, and how we as a family can gather together in one accord and pray to our heavenly Father.
So there is room for us to pray together and also for our private times of prayer. You will have noticed that in out liturgy we say the same prayers each week and they are well crafted and express our love and reverence for our loving heavenly father.
Final thoughts
Can you imagine a relationship with someone that you never talk to? It would be hard to see how any relationship could flourish or even survive without some sort of communication. When we pray to God, we are telling him about all the things that are going on in our lives. All our hopes and fears, not just about ourselves, but those that we love and care for. And you might think that this a one sided conversation. But God can speak to us in many ways, if we are willing to listen. God can and does speak to us through the bible – God’s word. And if we regularly read God’s word, it is surprising how often these living words from history can speak into our lives today.
Another way that God talks to us is through each other. It is no accident that we have been drawn together as a family. Sometimes when we share our lives with each other, sharing our joys and our sorrows. A word of comfort or advice can be God sent. And another way God can speak to us is through his creation. And this a wonderful time of year for that. As we see new buds on the trees, flowers appearing after a long winter. It can give us a real sense of hope and anticipation. A rainbow, the stars in the night sky, beautiful landscapes, the warmth of the sun. So many ways that God can speak and bring hope into our hearts.
Finally, God sometimes speaks to us through the Holy Spirt. There are times when you just know if something is right or wrong. There may be no outward evidence but somehow you just know in your heart – in your spirit with a certainty that defies all logic. I’m talking about spiritual gifts here, prophesy and words of knowledge. God can speak to us in so many ways, but we have to have open ears to hear.
Prayer is not a one way conversation. We need to listen out for what God is saying to us as well. Often a small voice that can get lost in all the clamour of life. This period of Lent is an opportunity to seek our Lord in prayer, to tell God what is on our hearts. Of course, he already knows, but he still wants to hear it from us. And, also to spend quiet times in his presence – listening for what he would say to us.
There is no doubt how much our heavenly father loves us and he will always be there us – he will never let us go.
Illustration: Parent holding a child’s hand and crossing the road.
Even when lose our grip – when we get things wrong. Our Heavenly Father will always hold on to us. He will never leave us or forsake us. This he has promised. So let us use this time of Lent to draw close to our Heavenly Father. Sharing our lives with him though prayer. Confiding in him and listening to what he has to say to us.
Amen.