Message Minute
Your Message Minute with Pastor Chris Byars
Matthew 6:5
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“And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”
Matthew 6:5, LSB
Prayer is not meant to be a spectator sport or a performance to show how holy you are. There is only one audience that matters, and He should be your only focus. Many people are self-conscious about praying, especially in public. We all know some who are very eloquent in their prayers, but God likes the down-to-earth simple prayers. He may even enjoy them more than some of the articulate, fancy prayers we hear publicly that are so very popular. We shouldn’t speak about the heart of anyone praying because we don’t truly know their hearts. Yet, we shouldn’t be intimidated by them either. If anyone mocks another’s prayers, it is more a sign of where they are and less about the person praying. If the words are sincere, God loves them, and He simply wants us to know His love as we look ahead to the rewards He has in store for each of us who belong to Him. Our rewards aren’t meant to be here and any blessing we receive we are called to be thankful for and never expect them. Jesus didn’t come for a show. He didn’t come for adulation. He came to save His chosen and that is why we are to comforted as we lift up our hearts in sincere prayers and seek to share and to know His peace.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.