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I am using the YouVersion 49 Week Bible Challenge for these devotions. Today’s readings are Matthew 6; 2 Kings 20; Job 38; Proverbs 23; Zechariah 7.
Matthew 6:1-15
[Jesus says,] “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “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. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
My personal prayer life often returns to the Lord’s Prayer. I pray it over the members of my family as I go to sleep at night. I found it to be of immense comfort when in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the daily brief pause for prayer included the Lord’s Prayer. We had been providentially kept from worshiping with others for three Sundays. And that prayer washed over my soul that day at noon.
Profoundly important teachings of Jesus surround the Lord’s Prayer. It all starts with his directive about outward shows of righteousness. He speaks of giving alms for show. That’s a no-go. But he soon turns to prayer. Don’t pray to be seen by others. Do show off. Speak to God – just you and him. He will hear you, and that’s what counts.
Then comes the Lord’s Prayer. It covers the waterfront of human needs as those made in the image of God and those redeemed by Christ. The assumption of Jesus’ prayer is that we are children of the Heavenly Father. The assumption is that we would wish his name to be kept holy. The assumption is the we would wish his will to be done and his kingdom to come – among us and through us. The assumption is that our daily needs be met by his fatherly kindness. The assumption is that we would seek his forgiveness. And his assumption is that we would forgive others – relationships would be healthy and mutually gracious. His assumption is that we would be led, but not into temptation. And we would certainly be delivered from evil.
There may be more for which we might wish to pray. And certainly the door is wide open to present any and every request to God (cf. Philippians 4:6). There is also great faith-building benefits to making specific requests to God.
Sometimes we may also need the Holy Spirit to intercede for us in groans and sighs too deep for words (cf. Romans 8:26). But the Lord’s Prayer is a beautiful way to pray to God coving all our needs of soul and body. Today’s readings also record the danger of willful and selfish prayers (Hezekiah 2 Kings 20), and a strong warning against hubris (Job 38).
Whenever we pray we must remember that we are praying to the King of the Universe, our Heavenly Father, who rules over all and loves all. May his name ever be praised through our prayers!
David Bahn - Reflections 
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