Showtime // Matthew 6:6

Today’s verse comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The context in this teaching on prayer is important. Jesus warned people against performance prayers. You can probably think of a time when a person was trying to make an impression with a prayer, being verbose and using flowery language. Jesus said that when we make our prayers a performance, the audience made up of people is the reward. God wants your prayer time to be personal, intimate, and meaningful. This is why Jesus encouraged it to be done privately. It’s about shutting out distractions so your focus can be on your relationship with the Almighty. Those are the times God shows up, shows out, and reveals His heart to you. So, if you’re looking for a “showtime prayer,” make it about showing up for God and seeking what the Lord wants to show you. If your prayer time is more about showing off, well, then your human audience is the extent of the reward you’ll receive.