Keep It Real

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street concerns and in the synagogues where everyone can see them.  I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.  But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.  Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.  Matthew 6:5-6 (NLT)

Rarely do we intentionally drift from God, but if we are not diligent in guarding our hearts and minds – this will happen.  A noticeable sign is if we find ourselves in church, Bible study or a ministry meeting feeling disconnected.  When we are simply going through the motions.  When we notice that our bodies are present but our minds are somewhere else.  This is what Jesus is telling us not to do.  We are not to allow our actions to become disconnected from our intentions or our hearts and minds.

To be fair, I can image the hypocrites starting off not as hypocrites, but like us – enthusiastic and full of joy.   Then, something happened or something didn’t happen that they expected from God.  Instead of confessing their hurt, pain or disappointment – instead of keeping their faith and relationship with God real – they disconnected and distanced themselves from God.  So much so that prayer turned into a faithless routine and they themselves turned into hypocrites.

In order for us to avoid their fate, we must keep it real; we must take the time needed to cultivate and maintain a true relationship with God.  Prayer is our intimate time with God.  We should be in constant prayer, constantly listening for God’s voice, confessing the truth, accepting God’s grace and reading scripture.

Today let us make sure we are keeping it real, that our faith and relationship with God remain real, and that we are not simply going through the motions.  Let us rekindle our desire and commitment to God.