Bachelorship

So, since Wednesday, Sarah has been babysitting for a couple who is out of town, which means she has been staying at their house with their children. May I take a moment and say that it stinks not having her at home. Maybe none of you guys feel like this, but I don't like going home to an empty apartment, knowing that I will have to sleep alone at night. Sarah, I love you very much, and I miss you incredibly. Hurry home!

SOnThem 25

"This, then, is how you should pray:
'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one."
Matthew 6:9-13

In order to contrast the ostentatious prayer he previously spoke of, he chose to give us an example of how we should pray. I have chosen not to spend time discussing the Lord's Prayer in my blog because we have numerous resources pertaining to it already. Not only that, but I'm sure all of us have heard a hundred sermons about it, and we've probably done some type of study on it in church at one point or another.
That being said, remember this:
God reigns over heaven and earth.
God is sovereign.
God is our provider.
God is full of grace and mercy.
God does not tempt us.
God is our conqueror.

May you go today, and know God in a new light that you have not known Him before. May He reveal some new part of Himself to you, that you can glorify Him all the more.

SOnTheM 24

"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." Matthew 6:7-8

Occam's Razor = the more complicated a solution is, the more likely it will be incorrect.
KISS = Keep It Simple, Stupid

God prefers an honest prayer over a long one. He knows what you need. He knows what you want. He also knows what He's going to give and what He's going to hold back. He's waiting on you to seek His face, then He'll shower His blessings down on you, even if you don't realize it.
Prayers don't have to be short, and they don't have to be long. Just make it honest, and express your heart to God.

May you go through your day today expressing your heart to God in an honest way.

SOnTheM 23

"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 men. I tell you the truth, 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." Matthew 6:5-6

Is anyone seeing a pattern here? Cry out to God. Call to Him. Fall on your face before the Throne of Glory. But don't do it so that others can say, "That guy/girl is spiritual. Do it because the Spirit compels you to do it. By all means, intercede for others, but do so in such a way as to keep a pure heart, not being motivated by any selfish desires.
Does this mean we shouldn't have prayer meetings? That we shouldn't pray over our food when we go out to eat? For those of you who are asking these questions, drop the legalism, and love God! Of course we should meet with other believers and cry out to our God together. Of course we should pray a blessing over our dinner. Just be sure your motives are pure.

May your heart be pure today.

SOnTheM 22

"Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:1-4

Jesus is saying here that we should not perform good deeds so that others will see us and think we are good people. After all, we are all beggars at the foot of God's door, right? If you do good deeds so that others will think good of you, then God will not reward you, for you have already received the reward you wanted--the approval of men, which pales in comparison with pleasing the Father.
But wait! Doesn't Jesus also say to let our light shine before men? Yes, but He says to let our light shine before men so that they may see our good deeds AND GLORIFY OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN (Matthew 5:14-16).

Don't do good deeds to gain the approval of men. Do them to glorify God.

May you seek to be righteous today, so that others will see you and glorify your Father in Heaven.