Dear Church,

Yesterday, we looked at Matthew 6. In verses 5–6, Jesus assumes we will pray, and He lovingly corrects how we pray.  Prayer is how His sons and daughters breathe.  It’s a candid conversation with our unseen Father who sees and searches our hearts.

Jesus’ warning is clear: don’t pray like actors. The hypocrites loved the looks of prayer, right posture, polished words, prime locations, but why?  Because their audience was the crowd. “They have received their reward in full.”  The compliment was the whole paycheck.

We feel that pull too, especially in our public prayers, turning prayer into a mini sermon, etc.. hoping people notice. That’s performing, not praying.  Jesus gives a better way: “Go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father… and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  This is less about a place and more about a posture: choose the Audience of One.

This does not forbid public prayer.  Scripture shows God’s people praying together.  What Jesus forbids is performing prayer words aimed at the room for self-affirmation.  Corporate prayer is beautiful when one voice carries our shared need humbly to God.

Hold fast to the promise: “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  His reward is His presence, His peace, His answered prayers, and His shaping work within you.  Hidden minutes with our Father change the public you, softer words, quicker confession, steadier peace, purer motives.  Isn’t that what we all want?

Also, please keep our missionaries, Nathanael & Erica Philips, Camilla Velazquez, Chris Brodeur, and Greg Kulah, in prayer as they serve in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  May their words be gentle and true, their hands steady and kind, and their feet quick to carry good news.

Be Encouraged,
Mathews