Read Matthew 6:7-13

“When you pray, don’t pour out a flood of empty words…”   -Matthew 6:7a

Ever had one of those conversations with someone where you knew immediately the other person was just trying to impress you? What about a time when you knew the only reason someone was talking to you is because they wanted something from you?

Most of us can pretty quickly see through a pile of empty words. Imagine what it must be like for God. When Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray, he first warns them about such behavior. Then he gives them a model…an example that was so good we still use it today in Christian worship. But it’s not the specific words that are so important. Jesus didn’t say, “Pray this…” He said, “Pray like this…”

In the Lord’s Prayer, in less than thirty seconds, we encounter praise, surrender, supplication, and repentance. One thing this model teaches us is that it is not the length or the vocabulary of the prayer that matters, but the humility and authenticity.

So don’t worry about getting the words right. Certainly don’t try to impress God. God knows all about you already. Just talk from the heart and you’ll get it right every time.

Be honest in your prayers regarding our Pathway to Generosity. Where are your struggles? What are your concerns? Do you trust God with the results? Whose will do you desire to be done?

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McKenzie, Scott and Miller, Kristine. The Journey Begins. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2013.