INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING PRAYER

RAINING TRUTH WATERING THE GARDEN




Watering the Garden

INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING PRAYER



Jesus instructs us that we are not to pray to impress others, but are to pray privately to our Father and he will openly reward us. He wants us to talk to him, not in repetitive verses or statements, but from the heart. The expression, vain repetition, doesn’t mean that we are not to be persistent on a particular request, because in another parable we were told to be persistent, but that we are not to repeat words over and over, like repeatedly chanting empty words.



Scripture:

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:5-8)



And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; these shall receive greater damnation. (Mark 12:38-40)



WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

We are to pray privately; not repetitiously or to impress others.



Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying. May God’s blessing be upon this

study of His word, Amen.