FRIDAY - 13TH JANUARY, 2023
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola & Oreoluwa ADEJUMO
THE REWARD OF PRAYER
Matthew 6:5-6, KJV
"5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
There's nothing justly done without its reward. The reward itself accompanies it to appreciate the sacrifice given which a great congregation might be defying. You and I can have the reward of prayer. In getting where we'll have that however, we'll do well if we heed some ordinances of Jesus on prayer.
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet" - Jesus said this in contrast to many who prayed with the intention of being seen, regarded as religious or hardworking in prayer. If that's there intention for which they pray, Jesus says, "they have their reward." They have their reward means they have their reward. You can't improve on that. These are words coming from Jesus' mouth Himself. That's why He wrote to you personally saying, "but thou when you pray." You know, we'll say, "God judges intention." Yes, He does and you should always purge your conscience and make it clear by asking always "the why" behind any of your action. Many actions are dead works. They're spurred by rivalry, desire for public praise, fame or that which perishes. You will get in contrast with kingdom principles and God if your intention is alien to what God says is acceptable.
If there's a guideline to doing an exam and passing it but same is defied, we all know you'll be penalized. The same applies here. Jesus has set for us new laws as it regards prayer and personal prayer mostly. He's saying, "mind your intention for praying." If it's to look like a praying mantis before the people, you'll have your reward. Your reward is that you'll be seen and praised by them to pray. But that act will rob you of consequently having whatsover you have asked in prayer from God because your intention isn't to have an answer from Him but rather to impress men. Keep impressing men and losing God's favours. In doing something spiritual like prayer, you may get into trouble. The idea that you should pray in your closet after shutting the door against yourself is a provision to help you maintain privacy (of being touched by men or of touching them) and concentration. You're different from those who intentionally situates themselves where they'll be seen of men to pray and be praised for same.
Jesus now promises that any who fulfils this condition of prayer would see His Father in heaven - the One Who sees in secret reward him openly. Your prayers - secret heart desires should be unto God. In prayer, we don't come to pose to God, we reveal our deepest longings to Him. He's someone we could disclose to. When rightly done for the right purpose, we're promised an answer. Also, it should be noted that it's very much inappropriate to pray and disturb your neighbours. The blueprint given us here would curtail that as well. If your prayers were to be secret to your Father which is in secret, then you won't have any basis for a jangling prayer that disturbs or wants to be heard. If that's your intention, Jesus is saying, "you already have your reward." If you're ignorant, correct it. That means, there's nothing that could be done to change God's mind about giving you answers to your prayers. You wanted to be heard, seen, felt and acknowledged of men to pray and they have and that's all. You have received your reward. They might have been deceived by the fact that you pray and spend time in prayer because you wanted them see same but Jesus says, "that's all, you'll ever have as your reward." "You have your reward" means since your intention has been achieved, you don't need another answer.
This is how many put themselves in trouble with God and wonder at what's not working that they're working. Hannah typifies one who prays this secret prayer. She even prays in her heart. Though Eli saw her lips moving and heard no voice, Hannah's intention was not to draw attention or be acknowledged to pray. As a matter of fact, Eli misconceived her for being drunken and didn't believe she actually prayed until Hannah opened up to him (I Sam.10:17). Jesus also fulfilled this when He went out to pray in a solitary place a great while before day. (Mark 1:35). Today, you have a choice - to be acknowledged by men or God. It's he who acknowledges you from whom your reward will come.
PRAYER: May I stop every vain labour. May I not yield to the desire of the flesh to be praised or acknowledged. May I rather see the children of prayers.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Genesis 23:1-24:51; Matthew 8:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; Proverbs 3:1-6
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