Don’t Heap up
Empty Phrases in Prayer
Mike Fabarez
Jesus said that when we
pray we should “not heap up empty
phrases” (Matthew 6:7).
Later he lamented a
hypocritical form of worship by quoting the indictment that first came through
Isaiah: “These people draw near with
their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8).
We must be so careful when
we bow our heads to pray, or lift our voices to sing. God is not impressed when
we utter mere words such as “Praise the
Lord!” or “Hallelujah!”
He is looking for
worshipers whose spirits (i.e., minds, hearts, and thoughts) are engaged in
expressing the meaning of those words (cf. John 4:23).
It is easy to melodically
recite lyrics of Christian songs, but it takes concentration, sincerity and
thoughtfulness to truly worship in song.
We should never hide behind fine sounding
words while our minds wander through a set of thoughts about something else.
This is a special challenge when someone else
is leading us in prayer during a church service or at a Bible study. Those
words coming from the one composing and vocalizing the prayer must be echoed in
our own minds and then thoughtfully directed to God from our own hearts.
When we are leading in
prayer or praying privately, we must be careful to never “heap up empty phrases” which our minds never grasp or our hearts
never direct to God.
Real prayer and real
worship require our minds. Don’t switch them off. Don’t let them wander.
God deserves our full
attention and desires our attentive communication.
Would you want to have a
deeper relationship with God?
God has made it possible for you to know Him
and experience
an amazing change in your own life by receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, and have
eternal life.
Say the following
prayer:
“Father
God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You.
I
am truly sorry. I
now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to
You.
Please
forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I
believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the
dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I
invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from
this day forward. Thank You that according to your Word, I am now born again.
Please
send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of
my life. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Please
use me for Your glory.
In
Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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