Mat 6:6 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.


When you pray.


There is no doubt in Jesus' mind that we are to pray, no doubt at all. What is prayer anyway? Prayer is worshipping God. Some have the wrong idea believing prayer is simply a helpline to God. Prayer is so much more than simply asking for things from God. Prayer is worship, worshipping God is prayer. People try to determine when the first prayer appeared in the Bible but the truth of the matter is it began right there in the beginning with mankind worshipping God, their Creator. Over time after man was separated from God the worship of God continued even outside of the Garden of Eden. We know that Adam and Eve taught their sons to worship God and that continued on down throughout all history. The idea of prayer as something other than communing with God is ridiculous. The idea of being able to worship God without acknowledging God as Creator, as Savior is ludicrous.


We are to pray! We are to worship our God always! Is it any wonder we are told to 'pray always'?


Jesus didn't have to tell people they have to pray- people KNEW already how essential prayer was to their lives. What some people got wrong was their MOTIVE for praying. Their motive changed from worshipping God to worshipping self. They didn't pray in secret but rather used their prayers to show others how well they could pray, how articulate they were, how important they were, how wonderful they were… they wanted people to hear them and they wanted that NOT to glorify God. Is it any wonder that Jesus wanted to teach us that praying in secret - in a closet with the door shut - is better than making a great show of praying in front of people.


Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.


Vain repetitions. Who are we honoring with vain repetitions? Who are we honoring when we pray by rote? Not God. God wants our heart felt worship, our heart felt praises, our heart felt supplications. God wants true worship not false worship and if you think that because you cry out God's name and make a show of praying to Him that you can't be a part of false worship- you're wrong.


Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him


Be not like heathens who use vain repetitions, heathens who speak a lot, heathens who makes a show of praying aloud.


We can't be like those who believe their false worship is what God wishes to hear in order for them to get the things they need. God the Father knows before we ask, what we need. Do we doubt He knows what we need? We shouldn't. It's in our nature to want to ask even when we know the answer.


We need to focus on worshipping our God in prayer, and yes we can make supplications as well, but we have to do so knowing that our God understands, our God knows, our God is all powerful, our God is merciful, loving, kind and our God wants our heart love, He wants our worship and devotion in selflessness- all through Him, all made possible by His love for us.