Good day dear friends.
Today is the day after Ash Wednesday and most of us are well on our Lenten Journey.
The foundation for a successful Lenten journey is prayer. Jesus put it this way: "5 And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 "When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matt. 6)
Jesus knew the power of prayer. Jesus was a man of prayer. He stayed connected with His father through His prayer life. Jesus knew that many prayed but some for the wrong reason. His reference to hypocrites and Gentiles, showed that while they knew the form of prayer, they didn't know the seriousness and power of prayer. These were using prayer just for show, and Jesus said if this is why they're doing it this way, they already have their reward. Prayer, according to Jesus was an intimate and personal thing between one and God. Let no disturbance or distraction keep you for sharing with God that which is in your heart, or from receiving from God that which is in His.
Let these forty days be ones filled with blessing, so start with taking up prayer and giving up those distractions that keep you from truly praying.
PRAYER: Loving God, in the quiet of this hour, speak to my heart. Let me speak from mine words that glorify You and your people. In Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
Today is the day after Ash Wednesday and most of us are well on our Lenten Journey.
The foundation for a successful Lenten journey is prayer. Jesus put it this way: "5 And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 "When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matt. 6)
Jesus knew the power of prayer. Jesus was a man of prayer. He stayed connected with His father through His prayer life. Jesus knew that many prayed but some for the wrong reason. His reference to hypocrites and Gentiles, showed that while they knew the form of prayer, they didn't know the seriousness and power of prayer. These were using prayer just for show, and Jesus said if this is why they're doing it this way, they already have their reward. Prayer, according to Jesus was an intimate and personal thing between one and God. Let no disturbance or distraction keep you for sharing with God that which is in your heart, or from receiving from God that which is in His.
Let these forty days be ones filled with blessing, so start with taking up prayer and giving up those distractions that keep you from truly praying.
PRAYER: Loving God, in the quiet of this hour, speak to my heart. Let me speak from mine words that glorify You and your people. In Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
