January 10, 2021
We’re in the “Run to Win” sermon series, where we are in spiritual training to make God a greater priority in our lives this year than he was last. Last week we talked about running toward God, like the wiseman hurried to find the new king, Jesus. They made it to the finish line. We want to run to win, run to get a close relationship with God. Next week the message is on The Power of the Word of God, how God’s Word will make you strong, keep you strong and help you get strong again. The fourth week, the message is Reading the Bible 101, How to read scripture to understand and apply it to your life today. Jan. 31st the message will be Running together, that we’re meant to do life in community.
How are we supposed to pray? Prayer is intimidating for most of us. We want to have a close relationship with God. But what do you say? There was a movie a number of years ago called Sister Act, and Whoopi Goldberg was not a nun, but pretending to be one. When called upon to pray the blessing on the nun’s meal, she said, Bless us, oh Lord, for these Thy gifts which we are about to receive. And yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of no food, I will fear no hunger. We want you to give us this day, our daily bread. And to the republic for which it stands, and by the power invested in me, I pronounce us ready to eat. Amen.
Pretty good, right? Jesus actually taught his disciples to pray. They were just as intimidated as we are by prayer. But Jesus gave them confidence they could pray and helped them understand what prayer is all about.
Matthew chapter 6 verses 5-8 are the lead up to the Lord’s prayer. Jesus is teaching us to pray. What he says goes against what you might think. There are some things about prayer that you don’t know. Some things you think are important for prayer that aren’t. There are some things you think aren’t important that are. Just because you’ve been praying all your life, doesn’t mean you know all about it.
Jesus says, When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites… here the first thing Jesus talks about is where you pray. You can pray anywhere. You can pray on a roller coaster as it gets started: “God, don’t let me die.” You can pray on the way to school: “Lord, don’t let there be a quiz.” You can pray when you’re driving and a police car behind you has its lights flashing: “God, please don’t let me get a ticket!” You can pray anywhere, anytime. But when Jesus talks about prayer he talks about a proper and an improper place to be praying. For some reason location is important to Jesus, where for most of us, it’s not even a thought. Jesus says, for they (the hypocrites) love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Jesus was talking about a group of religious people who wanted people to know how religious they were, so they prayed in the synagogue, to be seen. Jesus said, Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. Their reward was that people saw them. They got applause for praying: that was the reward. Jesus says, But when you pray go into your room and close the door. Now why does it matter where you pray? What’s interesting is in the Bible when Jesus went to pray, he didn’t go to his room, he went into the wilderness. When Jesus says go to your room and shut the door, he means, get by yourself in a specific spot to pray. Go into your room and close the door behind you. This one little verse practiced consistently could revolutionize your life. Where is important! Get away from the distractions: other people, your pet, the TV, your phone. Because prayer is a relationship with God. If my husband and I only have conversations about our family budget and what’s for dinner and getting the electrician, just business-type stuff, there is distance between us. There’s all the difference in the world between dealing with business stuff and going out to eat together. Time spent without distractions, being together, talking together is what makes a relationship. So a change of place and a change of pace leads to a change of perspective.
You can talk to God the rest of your life and never feel connected, because connection comes when you go into your room and close the door behind you. Beyond, “God, gimme, gimme, bless me, bless me, help me, help me.” Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you. A reward sounds great! You may think, oh boy, I want to go in my room, shut the door, get that prize. The reward isn’t that you win the lottery or get the stuff you want. The reward is the God who sees you in secret, talking to him, will reward you. If you get alone with God, the reward is not that you get everything you wish for. The reward is you connect with God. Then Jesus says, When you pray, do not keep on babbling like the pagans. They think they will get a reward for their many words. Jesus is saying, God is not moved by the number of words, your correct theology, or the right phrases. When you think about it, maybe the best prayer you ever heard was when a child prays, and there’s no flowery language but they have a simple trust in God. So, Jesus says, Do not be like them, (the babblers), for your father knows what you need before you ask him. That seems like an odd thing for Jesus to say: Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. God already knows what I need? Why I am I going in there? What am I doing in there? Jesus is saying, prayer is not about talking business: You may pray, “God, I need $300 to pay a bill.” God says, “I already know that.” Or “God my friend won’t talk to me, help them come around.” God says, “I already know that.” If God already knows, why do we pray?
Prayer isn’t just about asking God for stuff and praying for what I need. Jesus says yes, ask for whatever you need. But it’s like God is saying, “Let’s not spend our entire time together on that. I already know what you want.” So, you may wonder, what should you spend time on in prayer, if not asking for what you need? I want you to know why your heavenly father has given you the gift of prayer. If you make a list of the most important things to you in the world, you may list family, friends, health, job, hobby. All of that is important, but even more important is your personal relationship with God. Because everything else flows from that. The goal is a personal relationship with God characterized by intimacy and connection. Prayer leads to that close relationship with God. The reward for praying is that inner sense of peace; that God is with you. God is with you when he says yes to what you pray for. God is with you when he says no. God is with you when he says nothing. You experience that God is with you.
I have found a quiet place spent praying is life changing. My spot is in my room. I go there with confidence that God cares, hears and loves me and all his children. When life is disappointing, I find peace and comfort from God. I get a reassurance that all will be alright. It gives me a new perspective: because a change of place and a change of pace gives you a change of perspective.
If we want to run to win and seek to make God a greater priority in our life, prayer is the way to do that! It’s also a way to bring your hurts and hopes to God, to focus on what’s most important to you. It’s a wonderful way to grow in relationship with God.
My homework for you this week is to find your spot for prayer, away from distractions. Maybe it’s in your room. Maybe it’s in the wilderness like Jesus, and you go out for a walk. Find your spot and pray! No big words. Ask God for what you need. Be still and listen to God.
When you start something new it takes a commitment over time to make it a habit. So, if at first you try to pray but fall asleep, or get bored, or start thinking of other things you have to do, just persevere. Keep trying. Go back to your spot for prayer each day and see if it gets easier over time and more enjoyable.
Prayer can be intimidating. But when we seek God regularly, prayer has the power to bring us into close relationship with God. This year can be a good year, not because of circumstances in our life or in the world. It can be a great year in spite of what happens. Because we find God, the source of abundant life. He loves us. When we take a little time and empty our life of distractions, God fills us up. He gives us joy to the fullest, and peace that passes understanding. So, I invite you to give it a try: a change of pace and a change of place leads to a new perspective between you and God. Amen.
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