When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place… —Matthew 6:6
The primary thought in the area of religion is— keep your eyes on God, not on people. Your motivation should not be the desire to be known as a praying person. Find an inner room in which to pray where no one even knows you are praying, shut the door, and talk to God in secret. Have no motivation other than to know your Father in heaven. It is impossible to carry on your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer.
“When you pray, do not use vain repetitions…” (Matthew 6:7). God does not hear us because we pray earnestly— He hears us solely on the basis of redemption. God is never impressed by our earnestness. Prayer is not simply getting things from God— that is only the most elementary kind of prayer. Prayer is coming into perfect fellowship and oneness with God. If the Son of God has been formed in us through regeneration (see Galatians 4:19), then He will continue to press on beyond our common sense and will change our attitude about the things for which we pray.
“Everyone who asks receives…” (Matthew 7:8). We pray religious nonsense without even involving our will, and then we say that God did not answer— but in reality we have never asked for anything. Jesus said, “…you will ask what you desire…” (John 15:7). Asking means that our will must be involved. Whenever Jesus talked about prayer, He spoke with wonderful childlike simplicity. Then we respond with our critical attitude, saying, “Yes, but even Jesus said that we must ask.” But remember that we have to ask things of God that are in keeping with the God whom Jesus Christ revealed.
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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Again I hear it reinforced that the only thing to strive for is improving our relationship with you. And not really striving at all, but mainly just removing hindrances, and then just letting the natural flow happen. And then just live out of whatever comes from that relationship. So it’s setting aside some special time for prayer, removing hindrances, and then just show up and have a conversation?
Yes, that will take care of everything. That is the source of your peace that passes understanding as well as your ability to maintain it through the stormiest storms of life. You just can’t find peace like that through formulas or religious routines.
You’re learning more and more that we 3, Father, Son, & Holy Spirit are in relationship. Always have been, Always will be. And we’re inviting you into that relationship. As you step into it you will more and more, see as we see and think as we think. Once again, you can’t get there from mere religious observances. So we’re inviting you in. You invite us in…
Revelation 3:20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
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