Pause
If you’re able, plan to go outside today. Take a walk in your neighborhood or stop by a park. While there are many health benefits, we encourage it even more so because it’s a great opportunity to spend time in prayer. Turn off the noise and connect with the Lord. Invite Him into your thoughts, worries, and responsibilities. Approach Him confidently as the child of a King and communicate with Him like you would with a good friend. If going for a walk isn’t possible for you today, that’s okay! Consider spending time on a porch, in the yard, or simply in a sunny spot near a window.
Afterward, take a moment to reflect. Was connecting with God in this way any different than what you may normally do? If so, how can you make this a more regular part of your weekly schedule?
Reset
Matthew 6:5-8 NIV
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Walk with God
Is God highlighting any part of today’s reading to you? His Word is living and active. Pray, asking Him what impact Jesus’s words in this passage could have in your own life.
Jesus has been challenging the crowd to not do things just to get attention. In today’s passage, He talks about public prayers. Can you think of a time when you may have prayed in a particular way to be noticed by others? Have you tried to pray in a particular manner because you wanted to sound good to those around you? Be honest with the Lord and yourself.
Are you confident in coming to God in prayer? Are there specific ways you think God wants to be spoken to, specific words you think He wants to hear? Think about approaching God in the way you would want your children to approach you when they wanted to talk or needed something.
One helpful method to guide yourself through prayer is A.C.T.S.:
- A – Adoration: recognizing God for who He is and what He has done
- C – Confession: communicating your sin and need for Jesus
- T – Thanksgiving: showing gratitude for specific blessings in your life
- S – Supplication: asking God to be involved (to provide, to heal, to minister, to help) in specific ways
Try it out today! Ask for God’s help in your prayers. The Holy Spirit is a teacher, and Jesus Himself intercedes for us in prayer.