“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 will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full” (Matthew 6:5).
Is it show and tell? Or is it talking with the Lord? When you pray, to whom will you pay attention? Just as it is rude to ignore someone next to you that is trying to talk with you, so it is extremely rude to pray for the sake of being seen and not to truly pray. Come to the Lord and talk with Him and listen as He answers your prayers Seek the Lord while He may be found.
Lord, help me. You know the state of my heart and where I try to show off versus truly coming to You in prayer. Whether it is the folding of my hands in church, pretending to pray while thinking of something else, or anywhere else, lead me to know that it is You, the Lord of all who knows all things to whom I am directing myself. Guide me to be honest, true, and faithful in my prayers.
Lord Jesus, You have taught us to pray, and You are preparing us to be righteous. Take these words and plant them deep in my soul that I may humbly come before You in prayer. When I am seen by others, let me pray in such a way that they do not look at me when I am in conversation with You, but see my devotion to You. You know what I need, so I lift this prayer with the hope of always being in Your hands, for You know all that I need. Amen.
