[Tuesday's Devotional] - When you pray

2.   When you pray Jesus continues his teaching about 'acts of righteousness'.  Today he speaks about prayer.   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 others.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  Matthew 6: 5 [NIV]   Jesus is talking here about the Pharisees.  These conservative Jews prayed three times every day wherever they were, be that in the synagogue or in the street.  There was nothing wrong with that.  But behind their piety was pride.  They weren't raising their hands to heaven to be seen by God, but to be seen by their fellow citizens.    Jesus calls them hypocrites [v 5], the Greek word for actors.  They were seeking an audience for themselves.  They got it, but their prayers were useless to God.   Other people might babble away like pagans, Jesus continues [v 7] thinking that the more words they pray the better.  But there is no need for this, either.   How ought we to pray?  Behind closed doors, with an audience of One.  The Lord is the only one who needs to hear us and, even then, he knows what we need before we ask.  Prayer is not an exercise in giving information.   The best prayers have often more groans than words.  [John Bunyan]   Lord, thank you that you know my needs and the needs of the world even before I pray.  Help me to pray expectantly knowing that you will answer.  Amen.   David Long   Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!