Devotion for September 16, 2008

Prayerlessness

“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. 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. 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. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:5-8 NKJV)

Many Christians and many preachers will lament their lack of prayerfulness. There is seemingly some kind of a comfort found in the fellowship of this sin. Most sins lie hidden to others for the shame of them. However, this sin, perhaps because it is so ubiquitous, is readily confessed as if it is no sin at all. This is most grievous to the Spirit of God, shameful for the believer, and intolerable for the minister of the Gospel.

This lack of prayerlessness gives birth to sin. The first mentioned in the text above is the seeking of vainglory. Do not dismiss this as something beyond you. How many prayer meetings have you attended simply out of fear of what others would think of your absence? Also, consider how you pray in public. Are you careful with your words? Are you talking to your Father or do you speak for others?

The second sin is thinking you will be heard for your many words—vain repetitions. God is not a man who can be flattered. He will not be swayed by lengthy, aimless prayers devoid of the heart. What an insult to the Father it is to think you can sway Him with your many words when He can see every intention of your heart!

My dear friends let us go into our rooms and shut the door as we bow our knees before the throne of grace. Stop trying to formulate a magic incantation to bend the arm of God. Prayer should be honest, specific, and faithful. Look at Martin Luther’s comments on this subject.

When thou prayest let thy words be few, but thy thoughts and affections many, and above all let them be profound. The less thou speakest the better thou prayest. . . . External and bodily prayer is that buzzing of the lips, that outside babble that is gone through without any attention, and which strikes the ears of men; but prayer in spirit and in truth is the inward desire, the motions, the sighs, which issue from the depths of the heart. The former is the prayer of hypocrites and of all who trust in themselves: the latter is the prayer of the children of God, who walk in His fear.

If you have suffered from prayerlessness, then rethink what prayer is. Talk to your Father about specific things. Let your request be about spiritual growth. Let your intercessions for others major on their spiritual growth. Tell Him about the things that are worrying you. He will hear your prayer of faith!