Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I have a vague memory from my childhood when I prayed in a family or other group gathering. Someone, perhaps a sibling, snickered at the words I chose in my prayer. My mother, the ever protector, responded quickly, “He wasn’t talking to you.”
Jesus taught that prayer was never a public performance but a private one. Here are his words again from The Message and Matthew 6,
5 “And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?
6 “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
Instead of doing a dance for the world, you do your dance for God, your audience of one, The One. Instead of proclaiming your righteousness, you seek alignment with the heart and desires of God. Paul Thorn offers a great image for when God is your target audience and simple prayer in a phrase in, I Hope I’m Doing This Right,
Sometimes I wonder
How I made it this far
I’ve won some trophies
And I wear some ugly scars
Before I go to bed
I kneel and pray every night
I wonder if God’s proud of me
I hope I’m doing this right
I know a lot of people
They appear to have it made
I battle with jealousy
Why can’t I live that way?
Maybe they’re just better than me
At playing the game of life
Maybe I need to change some things
I hope I’m doing this right
The more I learn the less I know
The more I change the more I grow
I pray the road I’m traveling on
Will lead me to the light
God, I hope I’m doing this right
