Matthew 6:6-8 (NKJV) But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Prayer is never meant to be a monologue but a dialogue between you and God. In our conversations with others, sometimes they will give us an immediate answer, tell us that they will get back to us, or just be silent, and they may agree or disagree with our point of view. It works the same way with God. We can have a conversation with Him throughout the day, but we must learn to tune into His voice through the Word, leading, and the Holy Spirit’s impression on our hearts or “spirit man”. He might give us an immediate answer or be silent. Nevertheless, God will answer us through His Word, and His answer will never contradict what the Word of God advocates.
Consecration is a good foundation for prayer. When we pray, we need to begin with a surrendered life. Because Jesus’ blood has redeemed us from our sins, we willingly submit to God and live our lives to glorify His name. Our lives are not about us anymore. This is the attitude one should have when we come before God.
The Lord’s Prayer is not a formula but a guide for us. Jesus has already told us not to pray repetitively in the earlier part of the passage. Therefore, the Lord’s Prayer shouldn’t be uttered repetitively because God is looking for an open dialogue. Similarly, you would not want your child to regurgitate the same things to you every morning without sincerity. Instead, God desires to have fellowship with us. He is interested in every aspect of our lives and desires us to speak truthfully, sincerely, and earnestly with Him. We can use the Lord’s Prayer as a model and a way to approach God in prayer. You can speak to Him anytime and anywhere, without having to look for a religious site that’s touted to be holy and where prayer is heard. We have direct access to God without needing to go through another person we think God will listen to because our faith in Him moves Him.
Jesus didn’t ask His disciples to find a Rabbi to pray for them or a synagogue or temple to pray in. Jesus made it personal for us and the disciples when He asked us to enter our room and speak to the Father! It is direct access to God, the decision-maker. Prayer is a conversation between the child of God and the Heavenly Father, which can be reverential, casual, and candid at the same time.
Sermon Series： Lord Teach Us How to Pray (Part 1)
与神对话
马太福音6:6-8 你祷告的时候，要进你的内屋，关上门，祷告你在暗中的父。你父在暗中察看，必然报答你。你们祷告，不可像外邦人，用许多重复话，他们以为话多了必蒙垂听。你们不可效法他们，因为你们没有祈求以先，你们所需用的，你们的父早已知道了。
祷告从来不应该是独白而是你与神之间的对话。在我们与他人的对话中，有时对方会立即回答我们，告诉我们他们会回复，或者只是保持沉默。对方可以同意或不同意我们的观点。这就像我们与神的对话一样。我们可以与神在一天中的任何时间对话，但是我们必须学会通过祂的话语、带领、和圣灵在我们的心上或“灵人”里留下的印象将我们的频道转向祂的声音。祂可能会立即回答我们，或者保持沉默。当然，神会通过祂的话语回答我们，但祂的回答永远不会与祂的圣言相违背。
分别为圣是祷告的基础。当我们祷告时，我们需要以一个顺服的生命开始。因为耶稣的宝血已经把我们从罪中赎回，因此，我们甘心乐意顺服神，以生命来荣耀祂的名。我们不再为自己而活。这是我们在神面前祷告时该有的态度。
主祷文不是一个公式，而是一个指南。在之前的经文耶稣已经告诉我们不要重复祷告，因此主祷文不该被重复念诵因为神在寻找一个开放的对话。同样地，你能想象你的孩子每天早上不加思考缺乏真诚地对你说同样的话吗？相反，神渴望与我们交流。祂关心我们生活的每一个方面也希望我们真诚、认真、热切地与祂说话。我们可以用主祷文作为一个模范和一种方式在祷告里接近神。你可以随时随地对与神说话，不必寻找一个被标榜为圣洁的宗教场所，以为在那里祷告会蒙垂听。我们可以直接通往神，而不需要透过另一个你认为神会垂听的人，因为我们对神的信心能触动祂的心。
耶稣并没有让祂的门徒寻找拉比为他们祷告或进会堂或圣殿来祷告。耶稣让我们和门徒在祷告时走进内室，一对一的对天父说话！这是直接通往神，那位决策者。祷告同时可以恭敬，随意或坦率，因为这是神的孩子与天父的对话。
讲章系列： 主啊，教我们如何祷告（第一部分）
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