Prayer – between us and God.

Matthew 6:5-6 (NIV)
5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
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.

Prayer, simply put, is communion between a child of God and his/her heavenly Father.  It’s more than just communicating, than just saying something to God – even more than just asking.  It’s communion, fellowship, a special time with the One who loves us with an eternal love, whose grace is so amazing.  That’s what prayer is meant to be, a special time between us and God.

And that’s what it is simply meant to be – a special time between us and God.  Whether we’re having our devotional time, or praying for our food, or praying in public (like praying for food, or praying for others), prayer is between us and God.

Sadly, the Pharisees made prayer a “show”.  They prayed to be seen by men.  They wanted others to know they were praying, how spiritual or righteous they were, through their prayer.  So prayer stopped being a personal thing between them and God, but, rather, a personal thing between them and people.

We all have a tendency to be like the Pharisees, right?  The Lord was not against public prayer, for there are many times we have to pray in public.  What the Lord was concerned about was the motive, what our hearts were after.  Don’t we have the tendency, when praying in public, to pray as to be seen by men, rather than praying to be seen by God and God alone?

When we “practice” what we pray, are we not doing it to impress others?  When we use “big” words, or make sure that we are using theologically correct words, so others may think we are righteous or spiritual, are we not praying for others rather than for God?  When we turn down requests for us to lead in prayer, afraid that we may not have the right kind of prayer that will “bless” other Christians, are we not praying for men, rather than for God?

This is why Jesus said when we pray we are to go to our room, close the door, and pray to our Father who is not seen.  We’re not out to impress anyone.  We’re praying to spend time with God.  And the best way to do it is to pray from the heart.

We don’t have to worry how we pray in public, if we pray in private everyday.  No matter how simple our prayers are, if they are from the heart, and if they are a fruit of our communion with God, then it is a prayer that is acceptable to God.

So the next time we pray, let’s make it a simple time of communion with our Lord, and enjoy it!  And, the next time we are asked to pray in public, we don’t need to say “no”, and no need to practice making sure we’re using the right words.  Just pray from your heart.  Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.