And when you pray...

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."- Matthew 6:7-8

After these words Matthew records what we now know as the "Lord's Prayer." You know, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts (or trespasses) as we also have forgive our debtors (or those who trespass against us). And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil (Most churches add "For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, Amen).


So Jesus tells us not to pray long prayers and then he gives us a long prayer to recite? Not exactly.

Jesus wasn't opposed (at least not here) to long prayers. He does not want people to think that if they pray long enough that God has to do what they say.

There is so much that we can learn form the words of Christ in the "Lord's Prayer" but I want to focus on one aspect that without it our prayers are simply empty.

Dependence.

There are three places that my mind travels when I hear that word.

The first is a person you can claim on tax day. For example, parents can claim their children when they file their taxes and they get some money from the government (everyone loves free money). But at a certain age being a dependent of your parents is kinda frown upon. Who doesn't want their Independence? Their freedom?! 

The second is more closely related to an addiction. For example, think of alcohol. If someone has an alcohol dependence he or she needs it so desperately that physiological changes might occur in an individual. Lack of Sleep, headaches, irritation, etc. The scary part of drug dependence is that our body needs more and more to reach the "high" or "low" which creates a  tolerance which in turn creates more of a dependence. And the addict continues down this cycle until he or she can find healing from the addiction. 

The third is kinda creepy but also a serious condition. There is a mental health issue known as "Dependent personality disorder." According to the American Psychological Association
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing need for the person to be taken care of and a fear of being abandoned or separated from important individuals in his or her life. These individuals would be seen as "clingy" and obsessively seeking attention and approval from whoever will give it. 


So clearly dependence is generally seen as a negative aspect in our 21 century America. But what about Dependence upon God, our Father? I have noticed that most people would say this is also abnormal. They would say they are too religious or too into God. But no one would say that of an earthly child being dependent upon their earthly Father. 

 But, I want to have dependent personality disorder with God. I want to cling to his presence, I want to cling to the cross, I want to cling to his promises for my life, and I want to cling to his written word, the Bible. I want to be known as a person that finds his identity wrapped around the approval of another. My approval and yours can be too was settled when Jesus went to the cross. He said, This how much I love you. And Im crazy enough to believe him. 

But, I want to be addicted. In fact, I think I am. Addicted to what? To God. When I encounter God I want more of Him. I believe it was Kari Job who wrote, "The more I seek him, the more I find Him, the more I find him, the more I seek him." And I don't think Kesha was too far off when she writes, "Your love is my drug." Of course, she doesn't relate this to God but His love is our drug. It's addicting. And when we encounter more of His love we grow a tolerance and we need more. It's this idea of receiving the love from God and giving it to others that should be motive for living. 

But, I want to be a child. I want to stay in my Father's house forever.I want to seek him for my needs. That he may provide my "daily bread."  I don't want my independence from God because if I'm left to my own I will go down the wrong road because I am confident that my sin and rebellion would kick in. 

This is why I am glad that God already knows my needs before I pray them. He knows me completely. And he knows you too. He knows that we will struggle giving Him control and relying on Him and He still loves us. 

So if God knows what we need before we pray it why do we need to pray? This is an incredibly loaded question so I will just provide a simple answer. We need to know that we can rely on God. We need to know that we can be dependent on Him. That's what prayer is, "Showing our dependence upon God." 

Asking not for our will to be done but for His. Asking not for our kingdom to come, but for His. 

Are there certain words I must say in order for God to hear me? No. Nothing wrong with written prayers, nothing wrong with reciting a prayer from Scripture, there is nothing wrong with creating your own words, and there is nothing wrong with wordless prayers.

It is just about showing your dependence upon God.
Will you join me today in showing our dependence of God? 

He is the Father, He is the Son, He is the Holy Spirit and He is all we need.