Matthew 6:6
"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."
Matthew 6:9-10
"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Matthew 6:25
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"
Jesus teaches that our relationship with God should be real and sincere, not a performance for others to see. When we give, pray, or fast, we should do it quietly to honor God, not to get praise from people. Jesus gives us a model for prayer (The Lord's Prayer) that teaches us to praise God, pray for His will to be done, ask for our daily needs, and seek forgiveness. Because God is our loving Father who cares for us, we don't need to live a life full of worry.
Find a quiet place and time each day to pray. You can use the Lord's Prayer as a guide. Speak to God honestly about your day, your needs, and your desire for His will to be done in your life. When you start to feel worried about money, food, or the future, turn that worry into a prayer.
What is the difference between praying to be seen by others and praying in secret to the Father?
How does knowing God as your "Father" change the way you pray?
What is one worry you can give to God in prayer this week?