WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.760 All right, we're going to read together from the Gospel of Matthew. 00:00:03.760 --> 00:00:13.679 ! Matthew chapter 6, verses 5-8. 00:00:23.260 --> 00:00:23.699 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.820 Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:44.960 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. 00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:48.539 And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:00:49.060 --> 00:00:52.539 And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases like the Gentiles do, 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:55.460 for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 00:00:55.460 --> 00:01:00.000 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 00:01:00.259 --> 00:01:01.380 This is God's holy word. 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:12.700 I'm not sure if Corey realizes how hard he's made my job tonight and also his job moving forward 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:17.079 as he just preached a very powerful sermon in five minutes, 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:21.480 which might create an expectation that we shorten sermons up here, man. 00:01:21.500 --> 00:01:22.579 That was really, really good. 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:24.159 I appreciate that. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:27.939 So, our family, we like to read. 00:01:28.019 --> 00:01:30.799 And one of the things I like to read are leadership books. 00:01:31.659 --> 00:01:35.299 And every now and then when you read a leadership book, you might get a question like this. 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:39.979 It's, what's one thing that you could do, something you aren't currently doing now, 00:01:40.299 --> 00:01:46.280 that if you did it on a regular basis would make a tremendous positive difference in your personal life? 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:50.159 And I hear that question and I really try to think of like, 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:54.799 what would that one thing be that I could just do differently that would make a big difference in my life? 00:01:55.280 --> 00:02:00.500 And every time I try to answer that question, I come back to prayer. 00:02:01.640 --> 00:02:06.560 Prayer is that thing that if this just improved in my life, 00:02:06.579 --> 00:02:09.520 I feel like it would make a massive difference right away. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:15.180 But as Corey gave that great quote from Paul Miller, 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:18.180 which I highly recommend that book, A Praying Life by Paul Miller. 00:02:18.260 --> 00:02:19.660 I think I've read it like three or four times. 00:02:19.760 --> 00:02:20.780 It's really, really helpful. 00:02:21.600 --> 00:02:22.240 Prayer is hard. 00:02:22.820 --> 00:02:23.560 It's really hard. 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:25.480 And we'll talk about some of that tonight. 00:02:25.600 --> 00:02:28.200 But tonight we are jumping back ahead. 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:34.200 So, we had jumped back to chapter five last week and jumping back ahead to chapter six this week. 00:02:34.200 --> 00:02:37.680 And there is a connection between the end of chapter five 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:40.180 and what we're dealing with here in chapter six. 00:02:40.540 --> 00:02:48.460 And that connection is where Jesus was talking about how our righteousness must be greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees. 00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:55.500 And essentially what we talked about last week is that he is saying that it's not just about a matter of outward obedience. 00:02:55.640 --> 00:02:59.140 The scribes and the Pharisees, they focused on outward behaviors. 00:02:59.540 --> 00:03:05.460 But Jesus says that in the kingdom, following him is about what is in your heart. 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:12.280 And so, the end of chapter five talked about you must be perfect or whole as your heavenly father is whole. 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:20.840 And what we talked about is that that is where your inner attitudes and motivations line up with your outer actions and behaviors. 00:03:21.300 --> 00:03:24.140 So, it's not just enough to have the right behaviors, the right actions. 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:26.659 Even as Corey was just mentioning earlier with the children, 00:03:27.500 --> 00:03:31.280 it's very important that we also get it right in the heart. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:34.500 And that's one of the things that Jesus is talking to us about, 00:03:34.580 --> 00:03:40.139 having wholehearted inner motivations and attitudes lining up with our outward behaviors. 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:46.240 So, then he turns into chapter six and he says that we must not, though, 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:50.479 practice our righteousness in order to be seen by men. 00:03:51.099 --> 00:03:58.620 In other words, what Thomas Davis talked about is that we have to not do things in such a way that we're seen by others 00:03:58.620 --> 00:04:01.159 so that people will say, oh, that guy's pretty cool, man. 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:03.980 He must be a really spiritual person. 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:06.319 Look at how this person gives. 00:04:06.620 --> 00:04:10.819 They must be a great pillar in the community or a great pillar in our church. 00:04:10.920 --> 00:04:16.319 We must really make sure we're not practicing righteousness in order to be seen by others. 00:04:16.780 --> 00:04:21.220 And so, then he's going to give us three examples of giving, which Thomas talked about, 00:04:21.579 --> 00:04:25.420 prayer, which we'll be talking about tonight and a couple of weeks moving forward. 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:27.400 And then he's also going to talk about fasting. 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:32.840 We must learn how to do these things in such a way that we're not trying to perform, 00:04:33.379 --> 00:04:37.640 that we're not trying to be seen by others as maybe those who have arrived, 00:04:38.140 --> 00:04:41.520 those who do such a great job in the church, 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:50.639 but instead have a right inward motivation because Jesus is going after the heart in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:04:51.020 --> 00:04:52.480 And tonight we're talking about prayer. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:54.560 We're starting to talk about prayer in chapter six, 00:04:54.620 --> 00:04:58.759 and it's one of those things that when you evaluate your prayer life, 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:03.640 I don't think I've ever heard anyone say, you know, when I look at my prayer life, 00:05:04.200 --> 00:05:05.580 I think I'm doing pretty good. 00:05:06.140 --> 00:05:10.200 But instead, it's the one thing that when you talk about your prayer life, 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:13.460 you always feel like I could be doing better. 00:05:13.939 --> 00:05:17.020 And we're not just talking about time, the amount of time we do it. 00:05:17.080 --> 00:05:18.939 We're also talking about just distractions. 00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:22.180 And even, as Corey was talking about, just the want to, 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:28.959 just even the desire to be quiet before God and to pray can be really, really tough. 00:05:30.100 --> 00:05:36.060 Often when I hear a sermon like tonight, I will personally feel some shame or guilt. 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:38.740 I've been trying to walk with the Lord for a long time. 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:42.000 I've been a Christian for a long time, and I still struggle with prayer. 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:42.519 Seriously? 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:46.279 It's still hard for me after all of these years? 00:05:46.539 --> 00:05:51.079 And so I start feeling the shame and guilt when I hear a sermon on prayer. 00:05:51.219 --> 00:05:55.819 Or we might hear great quotes like this one from Robert Murray McShane that says, 00:05:55.959 --> 00:05:57.039 What a man is. 00:05:57.419 --> 00:06:00.799 He is alone on his knees before God and no more. 00:06:01.479 --> 00:06:03.579 In other words, you can look at someone's prayer life, 00:06:03.599 --> 00:06:05.479 and that tells you a lot about the person. 00:06:05.479 --> 00:06:06.060 And I hear that. 00:06:06.159 --> 00:06:09.779 I'm like, man, it just feels like it heaps condemnation on me. 00:06:09.779 --> 00:06:12.239 Or William Law says this, 00:06:12.419 --> 00:06:19.379 Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of him that we are capable of in this life. 00:06:19.539 --> 00:06:24.019 And I just hear, man, I'm missing out on so much because I struggle with prayer. 00:06:25.859 --> 00:06:29.739 But one of the things I found out, just like Jesus said to his disciples, 00:06:30.859 --> 00:06:33.199 The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:34.799 Y'all know what I'm talking about? 00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:35.699 Yeah? 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:36.199 Okay. 00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:36.899 So, good. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:37.500 I'm not alone. 00:06:38.300 --> 00:06:41.979 But Jesus tells us a little in the sermon amount about prayer. 00:06:42.579 --> 00:06:49.819 And tonight, what we'll look at is he tells us there is actually a wrong way to pray and a right way to pray. 00:06:50.139 --> 00:06:53.899 And he gives us a couple of wrong ways and a couple of right ways that we'll talk about. 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:57.180 Now, he's not going to tell us everything there is to know about prayer. 00:06:58.039 --> 00:07:01.779 So we need to figure out, like, why is he telling us these things? 00:07:01.779 --> 00:07:10.239 Like, this must be really important that these are the couple of things that he mentions right here before he gives us instruction on how to pray. 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:11.659 So let's look at this. 00:07:11.739 --> 00:07:12.500 Verse 5, it says, 00:07:12.619 --> 00:07:16.859 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:21.859 So when you pray, this is one of those things that you may have heard this before that he doesn't say. 00:07:21.919 --> 00:07:23.799 If you pray, he says when you pray. 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:31.540 It is expected that as a follower of Christ, prayer will be a part, a natural part, of the Christian life. 00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:34.500 Prayer is something that's foundational to most religions. 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:40.519 Whether it's talking about communication with the divine or seeking guidance or expressing gratitude. 00:07:41.220 --> 00:07:45.800 Most every religion, a part of devotion in that religion is prayer. 00:07:46.960 --> 00:07:51.180 Today, we have teachings that are written down like in the Bible. 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:56.819 Well, back then in those times, they didn't necessarily have it that accessible to the common people. 00:07:56.939 --> 00:08:00.319 Maybe it was only in the synagogues or the temple for the Jews. 00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:03.480 You didn't carry it around in your pocket like you did. 00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:09.480 You had to hide it in your heart if you were to have the teachings of the scriptures, of the holy scriptures. 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:17.379 So when you talk about prayer, you're really talking about one of the major devotional things of your faith. 00:08:17.379 --> 00:08:21.839 Whatever that faith is and whatever that religion, prayer is a big thing. 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:24.560 Prayer and sacrifices were the big things in that day. 00:08:24.659 --> 00:08:27.180 Those were the main expressions of devotion. 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:29.199 So prayer is expected. 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:34.059 Prayer is one of those things that should just be a natural part of your spiritual life. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:39.259 And so Jesus, though, is going to change the way we think a little bit about prayer. 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:39.340 Prayer. 00:08:40.539 --> 00:08:46.639 So in this passage, when he's telling us that there is a right way to pray and a wrong way to pray, 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.519 one of the things he says, you must not be like the hypocrites. 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:55.399 Now, Thomas Davis reminded us that hypocrites back then were basically stage actors. 00:08:55.559 --> 00:09:01.600 They wore masks and appeared one way on the outside, but inwardly they were different people. 00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:02.539 They were actors. 00:09:02.539 --> 00:09:08.019 And Jesus actually coined this term to talk about those people who live one way on the outside, 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:11.079 but their heart does not line up with that. 00:09:11.139 --> 00:09:13.659 And he says, you must not be like them. 00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:16.099 They are pretenders and performers. 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:20.240 And Jesus knows that we can be that way in prayer. 00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:23.699 And people in his day were that way in prayer. 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:31.059 They do something different on the outside than what is really going on on the inside. 00:09:31.059 --> 00:09:39.399 So he says, you must not be like these hypocrites because they love to pray in such a way that they can be seen by others. 00:09:39.579 --> 00:09:44.919 So wrong way number one to pray is praying to be seen by others. 00:09:45.479 --> 00:09:53.479 Now, we can naturally as people think that surely being good at prayer means that our prayers are good to listen to. 00:09:53.699 --> 00:09:55.659 We've got some great language. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:57.000 Maybe it's flowery. 00:09:57.059 --> 00:09:58.519 It sounds very educated. 00:09:58.939 --> 00:10:00.179 It sounds very pious. 00:10:00.179 --> 00:10:01.419 Maybe even poetic. 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:04.699 We use great, unique phrases. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:07.879 Maybe that's what makes a good prayer life. 00:10:08.719 --> 00:10:11.379 And he says, that's not the way prayer is. 00:10:11.579 --> 00:10:15.500 I mean, we've all heard someone pray and thought, wow, that's good. 00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:16.759 I have to remember that one. 00:10:17.459 --> 00:10:18.379 You know what I'm talking about? 00:10:18.459 --> 00:10:21.159 You hear somebody pray and it's like, that's good. 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:27.079 There actually, as a confession, there are some phrases that I have actually picked up from other people. 00:10:27.339 --> 00:10:30.179 And I'm not saying that is all bad. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:38.659 Because I remember one time hearing a guy pray and he said something that was exactly what I had been processing in an article I'd read earlier that week. 00:10:38.860 --> 00:10:42.620 And so it's like, that's expressing exactly what I'm trying to express there. 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:45.460 And so I will use that sometimes in my prayers. 00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:49.759 And that's not a bad thing to pick up things like that. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:54.299 But it can be when we're thinking, oh, that's good. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:57.080 That'll sound really good when I pray like that. 00:10:57.340 --> 00:11:00.039 That's one I should tuck away in the back of my mind. 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:11.559 And there's a big danger in this because there's always a temptation to pray when we're more worried about how we sound, how other people are hearing us. 00:11:11.959 --> 00:11:18.799 We've all been in prayer groups where, and Corey's brought this out to us as we've been talking about how to pray in city groups and stuff. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:22.799 But we've all been in those prayer groups where we aren't really paying attention to what's being prayed. 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:24.480 But instead, we're thinking about what? 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:26.740 What we're going to pray, right? 00:11:27.599 --> 00:11:29.360 What am I going to pray when it's my turn? 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.399 Am I going to sound stupid? 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.960 It's like we just do this analysis in our heads. 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:44.659 And that kind of leads us to a danger of are we praying in order to be seen by men instead of actually praying to our Heavenly Father? 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:46.320 Because that's what the hypocrites do. 00:11:46.800 --> 00:11:55.899 When we have these things going on in our hearts or in our heads as we're praying, it doesn't automatically mean that something terrible is going on. 00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:58.840 But it should be a signal to us, hey, I need to check my heart here. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:02.440 Am I too worried about what others think about me? 00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:07.800 Am I praying in order to be seen by men, by others? 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:12.460 There's always going to be a temptation to pray for recognition. 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:15.000 And this can be very subtle. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:17.399 So we have to be very aware of this. 00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:21.319 And Jesus says when you do that, the hypocrites, they have their reward. 00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:23.059 They get the praise of men. 00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:25.519 Other people saying, hey, that guy's a great prayer. 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:27.000 And that's what they're looking for. 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:28.240 They have the reward. 00:12:28.459 --> 00:12:36.459 Instead of the reward being maybe answer prayer or to hear the words of the Father saying, well, good, good and faithful servant. 00:12:36.959 --> 00:12:38.980 Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:42.740 That's what we long to hear as Christians. 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:45.720 So there is a wrong way to pray. 00:12:45.940 --> 00:12:48.440 And that is to be seen by others. 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:50.899 But then there's a right way to pray. 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:52.220 Here's how you should do it. 00:12:52.300 --> 00:12:53.159 Look in verse 6. 00:12:53.159 --> 00:13:10.120 So he says, go into your room, shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:14.899 Now Jesus is not saying that we should not pray in public. 00:13:15.199 --> 00:13:16.959 That corporate prayer is bad. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:19.620 I mean, we know his disciples practiced corporate prayer. 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:23.980 Jesus prayed among his disciples and among others. 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:28.700 In fact, they must have heard him pray a lot because they're like, Jesus, you've got to teach us how to pray. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.360 They knew he prayed. 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:31.200 They observed him. 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:35.840 He's not saying you've got to just every time pull away, get in secret. 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:40.259 He's also not saying that you've got to find a literal closet or a private room. 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:43.720 Jesus went outside to pray all the time. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:46.860 Jesus is not giving another law to obey. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:50.220 It's one of the things we keep talking about in the Sermon on the Mount over and over again. 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:55.700 He's not just giving us a new law to obey that's like, oh, he says, I've got to go find a closet to pray in. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.480 That is not what he's saying. 00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:59.159 But what is he saying? 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:06.820 He's saying, and this is right way number one to pray, pray in a way that is privately talking to God and not to be seen by others. 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:12.720 Pray in a way that's privately talking to God and not to be seen by others. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:19.519 We should have a regular practice where in our hearts and in our minds we are getting alone with God. 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:25.519 It doesn't mean you always have to be physically alone where no one else is present. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:35.960 But it does mean that we need to figure out how to pull away, even if it's on the bus, on the way to work, even if it's walking across the meadows. 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:44.439 How can I pull away in my heart and in my mind and focus those things on God talking to my heavenly father? 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:50.579 Because prayer is talking to God where my mind and my heart are engaged, that they're focused on him. 00:14:50.580 --> 00:15:00.759 And one of the things that we see from Jesus, we see this in his life where he would, as Luke 5.16 talked about, that he would slip away to pray. 00:15:01.300 --> 00:15:06.580 It says in the ESV, but he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:10.280 The New American Standard said that he would slip away. 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:17.339 And the language there is this idea that there's something that's going on in my head and my heart that I'm wanting to do. 00:15:17.419 --> 00:15:21.779 And I'm just looking for an opportunity to slip away in order to do it. 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:27.959 Kind of like when Celtic Ranger are playing and you want to pull out your phone and look and see the score. 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:34.299 Or your favorite team is on and you're just, oh, I want to slip away to see a little bit of it, just to check it. 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:40.240 Or maybe you're in a good book, like I just was recently, where it's like I'm standing in line or I'm on the bus or whatever. 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:46.939 And I'm just trying to find a way to read this thing that my heart and my mind are just longing to just pull away for a minute. 00:15:47.199 --> 00:15:53.079 Just even if it's just a little glimpse, just a little bit, just a little touch, I just need that thing. 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:57.259 That's what it's describing here of Jesus and his prayer life. 00:15:57.259 --> 00:16:04.840 That he would habitually just slip away, withdraw to a place where he could be alone with God. 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:08.439 Is this what our hearts long to do? 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:17.799 Are we longing to find that secret place where it's like, even if it's just a minute, I need to just pull away and be with my Heavenly Father. 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:22.679 Do we have a regular practice of getting alone with God? 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:30.659 Sometimes we do need to, maybe even regularly, pull away physically in order to get along with God. 00:16:30.979 --> 00:16:33.739 Sometimes prayer is just as I go. 00:16:34.719 --> 00:16:43.079 In fact, we need to learn that practice wherever we are, as we go, that there's just a spirit of praying continuously, as Paul talked about. 00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:51.379 But there's also a sense that we need to have those times where we are specifically pulling away in order to be alone with God. 00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:53.399 I like to think about it like this. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:59.899 Like, as Kelly and I are doing the dishes, it is very important for us to communicate with each other. 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:06.700 We need to have times where we're talking as we're driving, as we're walking, as we're just doing the things in life. 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:10.740 And if we're not talking during those times, we may not have a very good relationship. 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:17.720 But our relationship also suffers if we don't have date nights every now and then, right? 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:23.660 If we don't have a regular time to pull away, away from Hannah Ryan and other listening ears, 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:29.759 and spend some time communicating together, our relationship is just not going to be quite as strong. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.620 And that's the way it is with God. 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:39.180 We need those times where we're regularly pulling away just to be with Him in the secret place. 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:44.759 It's this point where I start feeling more and more guilty. 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:47.700 Because, again, prayer is hard for me. 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.440 It's something I struggle with. 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:53.180 I often tell guys in accountability or whatever. 00:17:53.340 --> 00:18:00.600 It's like getting in the Word, reading my Bible, is not as hard for me as it is to just be quiet before the Lord and pray. 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:05.039 And focus undistractedly with Him in prayer. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:14.480 Now, it's also one of those things where you hear me talk about pulling away and spending alone time with God. 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:18.319 And you might be thinking, you just don't know my situation. 00:18:19.419 --> 00:18:25.000 And what we do realize is there are seasons in life where it's just hard to do that regularly. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:34.140 Maybe that you are in a season where you have young children and you have no energy, you can't focus, you cannot get time alone. 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:36.759 It's hard to do that, isn't it? 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:46.019 What about the times where work is so busy that you just don't seem to have time to do anything but maybe eat, sleep, and go to work? 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:51.539 The Lord knows what's going on in your life. 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:56.539 This is not a rule to obey where it's like, okay, let's put it on the calendar. 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:58.299 Every day I've got to do this and this. 00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:03.859 You can be like a Pharisee in that, like a scribe that's just checking it off the list. 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:07.180 But it's about our heart. 00:19:08.139 --> 00:19:12.359 You may live in a small space where it's really, really hard to just physically be alone. 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:15.700 Again, Jesus is going after the heart. 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:18.159 He's not just giving us a new law to obey. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:24.700 And when we talk about this, getting along, talking with God, not being seen by others, 00:19:24.840 --> 00:19:32.019 this does not mean that when you're at a place in your home and your family member walks in and they see your eyes closed 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:35.700 or they may see your hands in an open posture, maybe even see you on your knees, 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:37.120 and you're like, oh, I've got to get up. 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.620 They can't see me doing this. 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:41.460 That's not what Jesus is talking about. 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:46.460 In fact, I just remember several times, actually. 00:19:46.860 --> 00:19:50.960 You know how your parents, when you're a little kid, your parents close the door for some reason 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:55.340 and you just barge in without knocking or anything like that and you don't think anything about it. 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:57.460 Well, I would do that as a kid, believe it or not. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:03.380 And I remember walking in sometimes, seeing my dad on his knees with his face to the ground, 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.000 and I'd go tap him. 00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:05.880 Hey, what are you doing? 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:07.200 What are you doing, right? 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:16.039 The reality is, like, that's burned into my memory, seeing my faithful father praying to his heavenly father, right? 00:20:16.620 --> 00:20:18.720 He was not doing that to be seen by his son. 00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:21.580 He was trying to pull away, and son wouldn't let him. 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:27.660 But it's the desire of our heart to try to find that secret place. 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:30.100 Because look at what he says here. 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:33.620 When you pray, go into your inner room, shut the door, 00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:38.279 and pray to your father who is in secret. 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:43.099 Does anybody else find that language a little bit odd? 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:45.699 What do you mean he is in secret? 00:20:47.459 --> 00:20:51.259 Jesus is telling us when we pull away to that secret place, 00:20:51.899 --> 00:20:53.519 we might call it a quiet place, 00:20:54.139 --> 00:20:54.959 God is there. 00:20:55.699 --> 00:20:59.579 He is there ready to meet with us. 00:20:59.579 --> 00:21:04.679 In case you aren't understanding what I'm saying there, 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:07.960 the creator and sustainer of the universe 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:13.819 is there and ready to give you his focused, intimate attention. 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.939 Do you understand that? 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:22.500 The one who holds all time in his hands, 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:24.379 even when we try to spring it forward, 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:27.119 he holds time in his hands, 00:21:27.179 --> 00:21:29.480 and he's ready to meet with you. 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:32.119 Intimately, personally, 00:21:32.399 --> 00:21:35.079 like a good, loving father, 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:39.619 he's ready to give us our attention whenever we want it. 00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:45.079 Jesus says here, 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:48.799 and your father who sees in secret will reward you. 00:21:48.919 --> 00:21:50.079 There is reward. 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:53.740 And sometimes that reward feels like it's the answered prayer, 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.759 but ultimately, 00:21:55.419 --> 00:21:58.039 that reward is we get more of God. 00:21:58.039 --> 00:22:00.639 We get to know our heavenly father, 00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:04.399 the one who satisfies the very longing of our souls. 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.659 We get time with him. 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:06.799 Psalm 73, 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.659 28 says, 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:10.579 the nearness of God is our good. 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:12.279 Psalm 16, 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:12.920 11 says, 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.960 in your presence, 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:15.379 there is fullness of joy. 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.420 And at your right hand, 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:18.460 there are pleasures forever. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.819 Fullness of joy, 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:21.299 our good, 00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:24.279 just by pulling away and being with him. 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:29.879 The Israelites had some incredible promises in the Old Testament, 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:31.220 like Jeremiah 29, 00:22:31.399 --> 00:22:31.879 13, 00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:36.659 you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 00:22:37.659 --> 00:22:38.740 Or Psalm 50, 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:39.500 verse 15, 00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:39.839 that says, 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:41.500 call on me in the day of trouble, 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:43.359 and I will deliver you, 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:45.000 and you will honor me. 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.740 And there we see that when we pray, 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:48.119 we get what we need, 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:49.980 and God gets honored for it. 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:52.740 He gets the glory by answering prayers. 00:22:53.619 --> 00:22:54.839 Psalm 145 says, 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:57.259 the Lord is near to all who call on him, 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:59.700 to all who call on him in truth. 00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:03.259 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him. 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:05.160 He hears their cry, 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.559 and he saves them. 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:10.900 The one who satisfies the very longing of our souls 00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:13.500 is found in that secret place. 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:16.700 So what an incredible privilege it is 00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:20.820 to be with our Father who is in secret. 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:24.759 Wrong way number two to pray. 00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.440 Jesus says in verse seven, 00:23:26.540 --> 00:23:27.160 when you pray, 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:30.740 do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, 00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:32.620 for they think that they will be heard 00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:34.620 for their many words. 00:23:35.040 --> 00:23:36.040 Wrong way number two, 00:23:36.540 --> 00:23:37.960 thinking you will be heard 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:39.860 because you use a lot of words. 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:43.379 Now, this word empty phrases in the ESV, 00:23:43.719 --> 00:23:45.319 some of you may have grown up like me 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:47.199 and hearing it as vain repetitions. 00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:49.119 Anybody else heard that interpretation? 00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:51.159 Vain repetitions. 00:23:51.919 --> 00:23:52.779 This word, 00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:55.839 it's made up of a couple of words 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:58.459 that we're not really sure exactly where it came from, 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.519 but it's just this idea 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.539 that it could be talking about 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:04.899 these pagan chants that are repeated over and over, 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.659 just using the same phrases, 00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:08.979 thinking that if I just repeat this over and over, 00:24:08.979 --> 00:24:09.799 God will hear me. 00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:14.339 It could simply imply that you're using drawn out, 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:14.819 tedious, 00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:16.919 and even wordy sentences. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:22.179 But it basically goes back to verse one again, 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:24.019 where you're practicing your righteousness 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.419 to be seen by others, 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:27.839 or just thinking that you can manipulate God. 00:24:28.479 --> 00:24:30.159 You think you can manipulate Him 00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:32.139 by using the right words. 00:24:32.219 --> 00:24:34.479 Like there's this right way to do it, 00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:36.699 using words that may sound impressive, 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.740 or may sound, 00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:38.819 if I use these words, 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:41.039 that will really express how devoted I am. 00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:46.319 I remember one time hearing a preacher talk about this, 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:48.819 and he was using the translation of vain repetitions. 00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:50.840 And one of the things he talked about 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:53.539 is the danger of using filler words in prayer. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:57.000 And that just heaped condemnation on me. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.259 When we were praying, 00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:58.640 it was like, 00:24:58.880 --> 00:24:59.339 Lord, 00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.799 just do this. 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.920 And that was the example he gave. 00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:02.420 I would say, 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:03.759 just do this. 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.960 Or one that we hear a lot, 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:06.539 I do it, 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.519 I hear other people do it, 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:07.859 that's like, 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:08.880 and yeah, 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.440 God, 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.240 just do this. 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:10.839 Yeah. 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:13.059 And he's saying, 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:15.059 it's applying to those filler words, 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:17.140 but I think that's just creating a new law, 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:19.059 that we're trying to avoid certain words. 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:21.039 But what is in the heart? 00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:22.579 Am I trying to manipulate God, 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:25.879 thinking that if I just find the right words, 00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:27.619 he'll then answer my prayer? 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.359 But Jesus says, 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.539 don't be like them. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:34.339 For your Father knows what you need 00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:35.619 before you ask him. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.460 If the wrong way, 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.079 number two, 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:38.500 is thinking you'll be heard 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:40.099 because of your many words, 00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.279 the right way, 00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:41.920 number two, 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.899 is pray simply for what you need. 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:48.039 Prayer is something so simple 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.339 that children do it. 00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:53.480 It's simply pouring out our hearts to God. 00:25:53.639 --> 00:25:55.359 Jonathan Edwards said that prayer 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:58.679 is as natural an expression of faith 00:25:58.679 --> 00:26:00.959 as breathing is of life. 00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:04.439 We don't have to overthink this. 00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:08.159 Maybe you guys aren't as bad as I am, 00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:09.359 but it'll be like, 00:26:09.439 --> 00:26:09.619 oh, 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:11.980 am I expressing it the right way? 00:26:12.159 --> 00:26:13.859 Am I meaning it enough? 00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:14.579 It's like, 00:26:14.919 --> 00:26:15.959 don't overthink it. 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:17.579 Just get alone with your Father 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:20.039 and pray simply from the heart. 00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:24.759 Jesus is not giving us a new law to obey. 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:27.960 We don't have to feel intimidated 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:30.079 because our prayers don't sound as good 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:32.319 as someone else's does. 00:26:33.439 --> 00:26:34.839 Prayer is simply about growing 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:37.079 in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. 00:26:37.659 --> 00:26:39.359 As much of that as anything else. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:44.839 One of the things I think about is like, 00:26:44.959 --> 00:26:47.059 when I'm trying to pray right 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:49.000 or in the right way, 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.179 it's like, 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:52.039 I'm just reminded, 00:26:52.219 --> 00:26:54.459 because of the work of Jesus on the cross, 00:26:54.939 --> 00:26:56.919 my identity is now in Him. 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:59.079 And even if I'm praying wrongly 00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:00.259 and using the wrong words, 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:03.059 I've got an advocate who is praying for me. 00:27:03.159 --> 00:27:06.979 Even the Holy Spirit is translating our groans 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:08.980 into the words that they should be. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:12.839 So just letting my heart overflow to God. 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:14.620 And many of you may know that 00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:15.900 Kelly and I, 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.460 we have one of our sons is deaf. 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:22.420 And so when he got a cochlear implant at age four, 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:24.180 he was learning how to speak. 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:26.200 And we're doing a lot of speech therapy 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.579 and trying to teach him a lot of things. 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:28.700 And one of the first things 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:30.940 that we're trying to teach him how to say is daddy. 00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:31.559 Okay. 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:34.559 But he couldn't. 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:37.879 He'd been without hearing for four years. 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.720 He was deaf. 00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:41.659 And he was learning how to speak. 00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:44.980 And there was one time I remember very distinctly 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:46.159 that I remember him saying, 00:27:46.419 --> 00:27:48.059 I-E, I-E. 00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:49.579 And he was calling out to me, 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.500 I-E. 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.480 And I was just like, 00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.859 I ain't going to, 00:27:53.919 --> 00:27:54.659 you get this right. 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:57.240 You got to learn how to say daddy. 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.679 Was I like that? 00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.240 No. 00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:02.360 I got up out of the bed 00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:04.980 and I took off sprinting toward my son 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:08.299 who had called out to me the best he could. 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.960 I'm ready to do whatever he needed me to do 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:13.519 because he was mine. 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:16.759 Do you view God that way? 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:22.279 That he is ready and willing 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:25.759 and desires that communion with you in prayer 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:27.740 because you are his. 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:29.940 Not because you get the words right. 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:32.240 Not because you say it right 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:34.319 or use the right combination of phrases. 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:39.059 Prayer is an overflow of the heart. 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:41.480 So the right way to pray, number two, 00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:43.900 is to pray simply for what you need. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.120 And then verse eight, 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.779 I think gives us the key to prayer. 00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:49.980 And I think it's the climax of this paragraph 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:51.000 or this passage. 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:54.519 And that is that the Father knows what you need 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:56.960 before you even ask him. 00:28:57.740 --> 00:29:00.359 In prayer, we can count on the fact 00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:02.339 that God is a good Father. 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:05.079 And he not only knows what we need, 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:07.120 he cares about what we need 00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:08.960 more than you care about what you need. 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:11.380 He knows it deeply 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:12.940 and he cares deeply 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:15.599 about every need that we had. 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:19.240 Romans 8.32, Paul says it like this, 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:21.480 He who did not spare his own son, 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:24.220 but gave him up for us all. 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:26.759 How will he not also with him 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:29.319 graciously give us all things? 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:32.819 If God didn't withhold his only son from you, 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:35.819 what else will he not give you? 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:38.539 How will he not also along with him 00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:43.000 graciously, graciously give us all things? 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:45.880 Our heavenly Father knows what we need 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:47.940 before we ask him. 00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.859 He cares. 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:52.619 He knows and he cares even more than we do. 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:55.539 Now we're going to be talking in the coming weeks 00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:57.880 about Jesus shows us how to pray, 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.220 how to approach God. 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:01.380 But you have to understand 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:03.200 that the basis of prayer 00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:06.000 is that God is your heavenly Father 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:08.079 and he knows what you need 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:09.140 before you ask him. 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:11.720 And we'll hear things in the Sermon on the Mount 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:13.520 like, if you're evil 00:30:13.520 --> 00:30:15.280 and know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:30:16.020 --> 00:30:17.440 how much more will the heavenly Father 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:19.360 give what is good to those who ask him? 00:30:20.080 --> 00:30:21.640 He is a good Father 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:23.940 who knows what we need. 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:26.820 The secret place of prayer 00:30:26.820 --> 00:30:29.500 is essential for the Christian life. 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:31.420 We might think that prayer 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.820 is for the super religious people, 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:34.500 but this is exactly what Jesus 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.540 is warning against. 00:30:36.300 --> 00:30:39.120 It is for children of God. 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:40.440 And it is for everyone 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:42.080 who is a child of God, 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:44.320 those who are in Christ. 00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:46.140 So we must learn 00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:48.660 to go to our Father in prayer. 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:51.080 Go be with him in secret. 00:30:52.020 --> 00:30:52.900 And we might, 00:30:53.560 --> 00:30:55.320 after going through the Sermon on the Mount, 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:57.200 we might have a renewed sense 00:30:57.200 --> 00:31:00.280 of just a passion, a desire. 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.500 We're going to do it, a determination. 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:03.820 And you're still probably going to blow it. 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:05.240 But that's okay. 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:08.180 Go to your heavenly Father 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:09.200 who is in secret. 00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:11.160 He knows what you need, 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.680 and he will give you everything 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.380 that is needed. 00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.900 J.I. Packer says this, 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:17.299 one day we will see that nothing, 00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:19.380 literally nothing, 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:21.220 which could have increased 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:22.819 our eternal happiness 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:24.720 has been denied us. 00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:26.039 And that nothing, 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.299 literally nothing, 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:29.339 that could have reduced that happiness 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.740 has been left with us. 00:31:31.620 --> 00:31:33.099 He knows what we need, 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:35.240 and he is a good Father. 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:36.720 Let's pray. 00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:42.960 Father, just the fact 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:45.440 that we can even address you as Father, 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:47.620 you are the creator and sustainer 00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:48.299 of the universe 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:49.980 who does not need us, 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:53.420 yet you gave Jesus to us 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:54.859 so that we might have 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:56.539 a relationship with you. 00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:58.099 And through Jesus, 00:31:58.099 --> 00:32:00.179 we can boldly approach 00:32:00.179 --> 00:32:01.299 the throne of Christ 00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:02.699 through the blood of Christ. 00:32:03.219 --> 00:32:05.019 We can come to you as our Father, 00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:06.599 intimately, personally, 00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:08.559 in the secret place, 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:10.500 knowing that you are there, 00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:13.819 ready to have communion, 00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:15.639 fellowship with us. 00:32:16.619 --> 00:32:18.759 Father, the Spirit is willing, 00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.919 but the flesh is weak. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:21.000 We feel it, Lord. 00:32:21.179 --> 00:32:22.179 We're prone to wander. 00:32:22.399 --> 00:32:23.559 We're prone to distraction. 00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:26.000 I mean, even if our lives 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.919 and outward behaviors 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:27.680 aren't wandering, 00:32:27.800 --> 00:32:28.500 there's so many times 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:30.500 that our minds just do wander 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.900 and our hearts are longing 00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.779 for other things, 00:32:32.860 --> 00:32:34.560 and we ask for help 00:32:34.560 --> 00:32:36.580 that you would give your Spirit 00:32:36.580 --> 00:32:37.720 to us in a way 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.880 that would allow us 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:40.220 to focus on you 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.660 and to love you more 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:44.220 and to go to the secret place more 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:45.420 as we're going, 00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:46.240 that we would go 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:47.400 to that secret place 00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:49.200 to meet with you in prayer. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.080 Help us to believe 00:32:51.080 --> 00:32:52.539 and trust deeply 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.880 to our very core 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:55.680 that you are our Heavenly Father 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:57.180 that knows and cares 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:58.180 about what we need 00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:59.400 before we ask, 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:01.279 and let this fuel us 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:03.180 to go into the secret place 00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:03.720 of prayer. 00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:05.340 And we pray all this 00:33:05.340 --> 00:33:06.200 in Jesus' name. 00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:07.100 Amen.