The Pattern of Prayer

Name: Scott
Scripture: Matthew 6:7-8

"7When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8Don't be like them, for our Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!"
OAP:

Prayer is clearly defined in this passage, as something that is between God and myself, and that it should not be flaunted. Verses seven and eight talk about how flowery speeches and drawn out soliloquy's don't need to be a part of prayer, which reminds me of Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, 7. 

"1As you enter the house of God, keep our ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2Don't make rash promises, and don't be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. . . . 7Talk is cheap, like daydream and other useless activities. Fear God instead."

Solomon is warning about bothering God with things that will waste His time, and empty words that are only for show.

Prayer is something that is hard for me. I feel like often times, I don't know how to pray. I feel like I'm doing it wrong, like I can't quite get ahold of the technique. one of the reasons for this is that, when I do take time to pray (and that is seldom), I am so caught up with the rest of my life that I cannot focus on my time with God. I've been realizing more and more through the dryness of my prayer times that God is inviting me to something deeper, and that He is willing to go through my junk with me. This is one of the pieces of junk that He has pulled out to show me. My life is so hurried and filled with confusion, it is becoming unhealthy.

Teacher, teach me how to pray. Jesus, I'm sorry for backing away from  you when my prayer times are dry. Help me to learn the full extent of what prayer can do, and help me to have expectations that you will show up and answer them. Thank you for tearing down the curtain to the Most Holy Place so that I might have constant communion with your Father. I'm sorry that I don't take advantage of that as often as I should.