Daily Prayer_November 11, 2011

The Word of God for wisdom:

Proverbs 11:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ The righteousness of the blameless clears his path, but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness. ⁶ The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.

The Word of God for inspiration:

Psalm 28:9 (HCSB)
Save Your people, bless Your possession, shepherd them, and carry them forever.

The Word of God for encouragement:

Matthew 6:5 (HCSB)
"Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. I assure you: They've got their reward!

My observation:

In today's focal passage from the Sermon on the Mount Jesus deals with the issue of public prayer. This is not a prohibition against public prayer. Rather, it is an admonition about the motive in public prayer. Jesus on occasions prayed in public.

Matthew 14:19 (HCSB)
Then He commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds.

The issue in public prayer is the motive, and Jesus had strong words to say about the motives of the religious people of his day. Think about this as you examine your motive concerning public prayer. Do I pray more in public then I do in private. There is no reward from praying like the hypocrites except the praise of people.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I ask that you would help me to enrich my private prayer life. Father, teach me to pray like you taught your disciples to pray. Above, all I pray that you will hear and answer my prayers in secret and in public.

My song:

Prayer is the Incense of a Holy Heart (Click on link below for the lyrics and to listen to this song):

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/762

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
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1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)
² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.