Rewards of Praying

God knows what we need

Read: Matthew 6 : 7 - 18

"But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard fort heir many words.  Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need or before you ask Him."

The Model Prayer

Is there an exact way we should pray? Is there a prayer that acts like a magic word? Jesus have clearly illustrated to us what manner we should pray, He told us to pray like the way He have modeled, but He did not told us to pray the prayer He have said.

He wanted us to understand the perspective, the priority and the content on what our prayer should have. There are benefits and rewards of praying right and not saying the right prayer. What we should learn is how to pray right.

Recognizing God's Relational Authority

We should recognize God's authority in our lives. (v9-10) He is a God who is in heaven, who's name is worthy of praise and who's reign should not only be in heaven but in our earthly domain as well. And yet He wants us to call Him Father.  In spite of His heavenly domain, praiseworthy name and advancing Kingdom He wants us to know that through His Son Jesus Christ, we are given a chance to be called the children of God, but we must recognize the fact that He is still a God who's heavenly authority should be in our lives as well.

God reigns should not only be in Heaven but in earth as well. As He reigns, what His will, His purpose and design, it is what will transpired. He is in control and in command. Our only response to that is complete surrender and recognition of His authority.

Understanding God's Grace

God's provide for our needs in daily basis. (v.11) Jesus wants us to realize that God is consistent and faithful to take care for us and to provide for our needs. He will never leave us nor forsake us. But we need to ask Him in daily basis. We need to be content on His daily provision, that He is faithful. We must understand that our daily needs is enough of a concern to not worry about tomorrow and be content on what He provides for us in our everyday lives. We are to live in the moment and understand that it is only through His grace that He have generously provide for what we need for that day.

We are sinful and we sinned everyday, people get hurt, feel frustrated and wrong each other as often as God would not want us to, that's just the way we are.(v.12) But because of His grace, He is willing to forgive us even in a daily basis. No matter how much we are to sin, His grace is more than enough, He will forgive us and redeem us, not only once, but as many as everyday comes. So let us not be too hard on each other but be willing to forgive each other as often as God forgives us too.

Accepting God's Sovereignty

God's victory over death tells us that overcoming sin, temptation and the evil one will be a responsibility and a power, Him alone we should entrust into. (v.13) We can't defeat evil, overcome temptation and pursue righteousness on our own limited self. This is a task we must yield to God. It is not in our power to go against such things, ours is to trust God that He will take care of us and overcome these things for us.

The Rewards of Praying Right

PERSONAL APPLICATION

God wants us to have the proper perspective and attitude in our prayer lives. And He was clear that by having the proper perspective and attitude in our lives, He will rewards us accordingly.

1. Trust in His grace - God already knows our needs even before we ask of it, this is clear on verse 8, but He still wants us to pray and asks from Him. Everyday (v.11). His provision is not a one time only transaction, but on daily basis.
2. Accept His Grace - God wants us to forgive those who wronged us, for He forgives us more than we deserved.(v.12) It is only because of His grace that we were saved. He is willing to forgive us on all our sin. Before, now and then.
3. Understand His Grace - God wants us to have the proper perspective, right attitude and right manner in our prayer lives, for in doing so, He will reward us accordingly and openly(v.18). What matters to Him is our personal relationship with Him on our prayers.