Jesus taught: “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth; that is all the reward they will ever receive.”
Matthew 6:5
Notes for Contemplation as You Use this Devotional:
- This passage, from the Gospel Writer called Matthew, from “The Sermon on the Mount,” discourages prayer as a vain, intellectual, public display. Instead, Jesus encourages his followers—and you—to pray with clear, honest intention.
- Hypocrites are those who fail to walk their talk; they say one thing, but demonstrate another. To Jesus, praying insincerely, rather than aligning fully with God (Higher Power, Supreme Being, etc.) and your own divine nature, is hypocrisy.
- Jesus is a mystic, master teacher, healer, and wayshower for multitudes because he is a fully embodied, grounded spirit radiating his absolute divinity. Everything he does is God-guided and God-directed. He doesn’t use prayer as a weapon against others or assert his power by waging prayer wars. He discourages vanity in prayer because energy and intention matter much more than sophistication and effort.
- Intentional prayer helps you discern how best to transform yourself, not other people or circumstances beyond your control. Praying as Jesus recommends is tuning into yourself, hearing your own still, small voice (your intuition), and honoring your soul.
- Demonstration is your evidence of how well your life works. When you pray with positive intention, you have a clear, focused purpose. You listen for assurance, clarity, discernment, and/or guidance. You’re prepared that you may not like the answer you hear, but you appreciate knowing what is yours to do. When you’re intentional, you are not giving God directions, setting goals, or constantly imploring, begging, or beseeching because you know that forcing and pushing won’t achieve your desired outcome. You understand that somethings take as long as they take.
- Sometimes it’s taught that you’re to pray and move your feet. This means that once you set your intention, you follow through on your part. Yet, praying repeatedly for something, while being out of integrity with your intention, shows lack of commitment and trust. For example, if you always pray for perfect health, but keep smoking two packs a day, no matter how beautiful your prayers are, you’re unlikely to be vibrantly healthy.
Contemplation Questions for Reflection:
Ask yourself:
- What are my current prayer intentions?
- List, word map, or illustrate whatever they are.
- When I reflect on my intentions, what do I want transformed?
- List, word map, or illustrate as much as applies.
- When I reflect on my intentions, what, if any of my behaviors are out of integrity (hypocritical) with the transformation I desire?
- List, word map, or illustrate as much as applies.
- When I reflect on my intentions, what are at least three (3) things I can transform to realize my desired outcome?
- List, word map, or illustrate as much as you imagine.
Use this devotional whenever you want to empower yourself and deepen your prayer life. Remember that your prayers are never about changing God or trying to negotiate with any Supreme Being. You are praying to transform yourself, your life, and your perspective about any difficulties you experience. As you pray, remind yourself that you’re a divine spiritual being with a radiant soul, living in a sacred body temple, having human experiences. See human experiences for what they are, part of your soul enfoldment and life journey. Trust your intuition, stay true to your intentions, and let the best unfold.
© 2024 – Rev. Jennifer L. Sacks – All rights reserved.
Photo from Shutterstock by Ryzhkov Oleksandr.
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