Praying with a Right Heart Attitude (TMF:1234)

Thursday, October 10, 2019
Peace to Live By: Praying with a Right Heart Attitude (TMF:1234) - Daniel Litton
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       So, to start, Jesus sets up his discussion here in Matthew 6 by first talking about the fact that we should not be doing things in front of others just to be seen by them. In other words, if we are acting religious, or praying eloquent prayers, just so others can see and hear us, and think we’re a great person, we don’t have a right heart attitude before God. We are praying just for the sake of looking good instead of for the purpose of talking with God. We are doing the right thing, but for the wrong reason. Now, this doesn’t mean it’s wrong to pray in public; it certainly doesn’t mean that. It’s okay to pray out in public, like on a prayer walk or at a restaurant. The point is that we need to watch our motive when we pray. We can even pray in secret and still have a wrong motive. We can pray with a group of friends, or at a Bible study, and still have an incorrect motive. When we pray in front of others to be seen by them, Jesus tells us that that’s the only reward we are going to receive—the praise of men. We aren’t going to receive any praise from God for such an action—no reward now in this life and no reward for Heaven in the future.