Daily devotion – talk to God
Matthew 6: 5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.[fn] 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
Tonight, we gather for prayer seeing it’s Wednesday – our midweek service. A time for the real Church to gather, no spectators, no one there who does not want to be there, but a gathering of redeemed sinners who have had their lives changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Prayer was given to us by Christ Himself to see His kingdom done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Jesus even gave us a model of how to pray. He taught His disciples how to pray, what we should be seeking as we pray, and to believe in Him every time we pray.
As a pastor I am constantly saddened to see so many who name the name of Christ neglect prayer when their lives are falling apart. It’s like being sick or in desperate need and not going to the doctor or seeking wisdom or help when God is available to get us through the storms we are facing. It’s akin to neglecting a rescue line when it’s hanging right in front of you as you are hanging off a cliff face.
But prayer is not something we have to do. It’s not an obligatory action that we need to carry out to get a tick from God. It’s knowing that the separation that once existed between sinful man and the holy God by that huge thick veil, has been torn down and now we have complete and utter access to the throne of almighty God.
We would never turn down an invitation from the king nor anyone else of whom we recognise and respect. But today there will be people who will attend a Church somewhere on Sunday who will not say a word of thanks, offer up a sentence of praise, or seek God’s help, and yet Heaven’s door to the throne of God is open to them.
Paul tells us to pray without ceasing!
Jesus tells us, Jhn 14:13 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Jhn 14:14 “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Will you speak to God today?