How to Pray Like you Mean it- Practice Makes Perfect (a series on practical righteousness) #2; Build your Life #21

Intro:I cannot remember where I saw this, but some character on some show somewhere, was trying to extract an apology or a promise from someone and said- “say it like you mean it...” (it just stuck with me)

“Say it like you mean it" is used as an expression of sincerity. To say what you mean and mean what you say goes a long way in our relationships, doesn’t it? It’s important when we talk with others that we are being clear with both our meaning and our motives. This is especially true when the person we are talking to is God.

What are you praying for? What is going on in your heart, mind, life, that you are bringing to God? How does He know you are serious? How do you know you are sincere? Today we’re talking about how to pray like you mean it. Matthew 6:5–8, And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Let’s have a quick word of prayer.

Notice, Jesus uses the same formula for praying as He did for giving (6:1-4).He addressed it as an expected and common religious practice- when you pray. All religions practice prayer- Jews, Christians, & others (heathen, vs. 7), every religion includes prayer as a religious practice.

We need to distinguish between the prayers of those who are merely religious, with those who are truly RIGHTEOUS. You see, there is a big difference between being religious & being righteous. The difference is a relationship; God is our “Father.” When God is your Father, it changes the way you pray. Your prayer life goes beyond what is merely religious, or repetitious; it is RELATIONAL. If we are a Christian, we have a relationship with God the Father through the person & work of His Son & our Savior, Jesus Christ. So, how can we pray like we mean it?

1. Pray in SOLITUDE, 5 (When)

Jesus tells His disciples to not pray like the hypocrites (the same word from vss. 1-4 about giving). Hypocritedescribes an actor, a pretender, a person who professes beliefs or opinions they do not hold to conceal their real feelings or motives. For Jesus, a hypocrite is someone who does what is right but for the wrong reasons. It is a religious person (e.g., scribe or pharisee) who made a big show out of their giving & praying.

The scenario Jesus uses was the common Jewish practice of praying 3 times a day- 9 am, 12 noon, & 3 pm. E.g., Daniel 6:10,Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

There are biblical examples of people kneeling, sitting, lying prostrate, or standing.It was common practice to stand with arms raised in prayer & it was common to do it in public- the synagogue (the place of prayer), or the street corner (public square). The Bible is full of recorded instances of public prayer. In Jesus’ words, the problem wasn’t the time, the place, or the posture; it was the motive. Public prayer in the public square is a good and right thing to do when your heart is right.

Apparently, the people Jesus was referencing were not doing it for the right reason, hence- hypocrites. Their reward (wages, what they earned) was being seen by others. John Stott- Behind their piety lurked their pride. What they really wanted was applause. They got it.

If you really want to test the motives of your prayer life, ask yourself the WHEN question- when do I pray? Do I pray more when I’m in front of a group of people than I do when I’m alone? Would I rather pray where someone can see me than where someone cannot? When I pray, am I looking for the approval of people, or for the applause of God?

For us to pray like we mean it, we need to draw a distinction between being a merely religious person and being a real disciple. You might do the same things, but not for the same reasons. Being a real disciple means that we’re more likely to be praying when all alone than in front of a crowd. That means more than just praying in solitude, it means praying in secret.

2. Pray in SECRET, 6 (Where)

Jesus contrasts the prayer life of the hypocrite to that of His disciples. Look closely at His instructions- go into your room (inner room, storeroom, KJV- closet), shut your door, & pray to the Father in the secret place (concealed, hidden). You cannot see Him, but He is there.

Does Jesus mean that the only place you can pray is inside your secret room?No, not even Jesus practiced that. There are several times recorded when He prayed in front of others- at meals, when He performed miracles, or ministering to others, etc., but all of those instances of public prayer flowed out of His private prayer life. Mark 1:35, Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

Luke 5:16, (Jesus) often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Matthew 14:23, And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

The secret room doesn’t have to be a place in your house, it can be anywhere that is reserved for you & God. Psalm 91:1, He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The Father is everywhere you are, and when we practice His presence, wherever we are, He’s already there.

Jesus says if you do that, God who sees in secret will reward you openly. Reward- recompense, pay back. What kind of public reward do we receive for spending private time alone with God?

E.g., disciples- Acts 4:13, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

When you go to the Lord in private, the payoff is His presence. The Presence Centered Church, Bill Elliff- More can happen in 5 minutes of God’s manifest presence than in 50 years of our best human efforts.

For us to pray like we mean it means that we are consistently spending time alone with God in secret, and the time alone with God in secret, will be apparent to others in public. We pray in solitude, we pray in secret, we pray in surrender.

3. Pray in SURRENDER, 7-8 (How)

In vs. 7, Jesus commands His disciples to not pray like heathens do. He’s already said to not pray like hypocrites, & now He says to not pray like heathens. The practice Jesus is referring to was that of pluralistic religions of Greek & Roman cultures- repetition was used to pester the gods so they would grant requests.

Vain repetitions- stammer, to prattle, to utter many useless & purposeless words, believing that is how your so-called “god” will hear you. Jesus says they thinkthey will be heard for their many words- much speaking, a style that uses excessive words, verbose. We don’t need to pray like that. Ecc 5:1–2, Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. 2Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.

ILL: Preaching & Preachers, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, I remember a man who used to amuse those of us who were more concerned about learning medicine than acquiring a wonderful bedside manner. We were amused at the way in which this man used to apply his stethoscope to the patient’s chest. The great flourish had nothing whatsoever to do with medicine. Actually, he was not very good at interpreting what he had heard; but the airs and graces with which he applied the stethoscope were wonderful to behold. No doubt it had an effect on some people… but if you were really ill it did not help you.

God doesn’t need the flourish or the flowery words. If it’s on your heart, it’s already on God’s mind.

God knows what you need before you ask Him. E.g., a child who is hungry, when they come to their parents hungry, do they beat around the bush, use a lot of words, or do they come right out & say it- Mama, I’m hungry!

ILL: Meme of Bible translations- Message Bible: Mama, I’m hungry; Amplified Version: Mummy, I am hungry (famished, starving); NIV: Mother, I am hungry; KJV: Henceforth, let it be known unto thee, birth giver, that my belly consists of emptiness.

And mama, who knows her child so well, she already knows (1) when her child gets hungry, (2) what they likely want to eat, & (3) already has the proper snack ready for them. She knows what they need before they ask, but they still need to ask!

God knows what you need BEFORE you know and BETTER than you know. He knows FIRST and He knows BEST exactly what it is you need.

Romans 8:26–27, Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

So, what are you praying for? Pray it like you mean it: Pray it in solitude. Pray it in secret. Pray it in surrender.

THREE TAKEAWAYS FOR PRAYING LIKE YOU MEAN IT:

1) Have a set TIME for serious prayer.

You can pray at any time, and you should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:13). If you want to be serious about your prayer life you will make it a constant discipline to pray at a set time. E.g., I have an alarm on my phone that hits at 12 noon everyday- Pray for the Church.

2) Have a set PLACE for serious prayer.

Yes, just as you can pray at any time, you can pray in any place, Jesus showed us that with His life. But if you want to be serious about making prayer a spiritual habit, you will set a time and place for it every day. ILL: you have a go-to place for food & drink right, you need one for prayer.

3) Have a set WAY to pray, i.e. a form for praying.

E.g., PRAY- praise, repent, ask, yield; ACTS- adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication; I use a prayer journal with a method- the 5 points of the Lord’s prayer that I learned from my former pastor. Next week Jesus will teach us His model for praying.

The most important part of your prayer life is not that you do it religiously, or repetitiously, but that you do so relationally. Is God your Father? Only true if Jesus is your Savior.