Today's Scripture:
Matthew 23:5-15

Key Verse:
Matthew 23:14

"...and for a pretense make long prayer..."

The Point:
Effective praying is determined by the heart, not just by the number of words or minutes.

The Pharisees often sought to impress those who were observing them, so they prayed long prayers which accomplished nothing. Jesus was not condemning long prayers but the motive behind them. He exposed the hypocrisy of those who are more concerned about what others think of their prayers, instead of what God knows about their prayers.

Confess and Forsake Any Known Sin:

Probing Questions:

• Have you allowed your self-conscious pride to keep you from praying?
• Are you offended easily?
• Do you get angry easily?
• Are you more concerned with what other people think of you than with what God thinks of you?

Confess, repent, and forsake this pride.

Praise:
I am free from all bondage.

John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Request:

• Ask God for the boldness to pray and only be concerned about what pleases Him.
• Ask God to intervene, for His name’s sake, on any specific challenges or problems that your church is facing.
• Ask God how you can be part of the solution to any of the problems.
• Ask God to reveal to you if any of your actions have contributed to the problems and how you could contribute to the solution.