Avoiding Hypocrisy in Prayer
People who are uncomfortable praying with others might point out Matthew 6:6, the verse where Jesus advocates praying in secret. However, Christ’s point was not to define our location but rather our attitude. His admonition wasn’t to avoid public prayer. It was a warning not to pray hypocritically by seeking the approval of others. If our focus is on how we sound, we’re on the wrong track. The Lord will never call us out for being inarticulate or using bad grammar. He focuses on the motivation of our spirit. How well we speak doesn’t matter if we’re truly talking to God instead of trying to impress those around us. When our focus is on God, He hears our prayer, and others are drawn to that pure and unadulterated communion. Whether we pray in a closet or in an auditorium filled with people, we must remember that we’re speaking to an audience of one, and He delights in hearing from us.
