The "ABC"s of Prayer - O is for OSTENTATIOUS

What exactly does it mean to be ostentatious? It sounds harmless enough right? To be ostentatious means to be showy or give a pretentious display that is designed to impress people. When it comes to prayer that is certainly not a good thing. In fact, in the Old Testament, Solomon addressed this issue on at least two separate occasions. In Proverbs 25:14 he cautions us that "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain." We're "all show and no go". Again in chapter 27 verse 2 he mentions that we should "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." Not only does this kind of conduct hurt our testimony as a believer, but it actually impacts our ability to reach the ears of our creator when we pray. As Christ Himself put it: "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 6:1) Now that we know what it means to be ostentatious, let's be careful that we don't allow ourselves to be involved in this kind of conduct. Sure there is a time and a place for corporate prayer, but the bulk of our prayer should be done alone with our Heavenly Father so that we aren't seeking the praise of men. As Christ put it: "thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." (Matthew 6:4)

The "ABC"s of Prayer - N is for NEED

We are a needy people. In the book of Psalms alone this fact is mentioned a total of sixteen times ! Thankfully; to the extent that human beings are in need, God is able to deliver! Psalm 70:5 says "I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer." Amazing as it may seem, God turns a sympathetic ear to the voice of the needy. Knowing this, King David cried out to God: "Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy."(Psalm 86:1) To be in need is part of the human condition. How good to know that we as believers, have one who not only hears, but delivers! "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of NEED!" (Hebrews 4:16)

The "ABC"s of Prayer. "M" is for MERCY

MERCY is unmerited favor demonstrated by compassion and forgiveness. Our ability to even approach the throne room of God to pray is rooted in the mercy that was extended to us through the redemptive work of our Savior Jesus Christ. The Mercy Seat of the Old Testament is a type of Christ's atoning work. As it is worded in Hebrews chapter 9 : "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." The next time we come "boldy unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy," (Hebrews 4:16) let us be eternally thankful for the compassion, forgiveness and unmerited favor extended to each one of us at the mercy seat of Calvary!

The "ABC"s of Prayer. "L" is for LIST

First Thessalonians 1:2 says "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers." Do you have a prayer list? I don't know about you, but I am hard pressed to remember a short list of items to pick up at the grocery store, let alone to remember what should be a pretty specific list of names and reequests when I pray.How specific should the list be? The Apostle Paul mentions in the books of Romans,Ephesians, Thessalonians and Philemon that he prayed individually for believers. Is that a surprise? After all our Shepherd Jesus Christ knows us by name("the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name"- John 10:3)and if we are to pattern our lives after Him, we should be interceding by name. Make a list, keep it current. Keep track of our answers to prayer and you will be amazed and blessed with the results!