Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 134:1-3
Ps 134:1-3
1 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
Jesus told the people of his day that they were not to pray as the hypocrites who prayed long, loud and in public places to be seen of men. Rather, he told them to go into their closest and pray in secret and the Father would reward them openly. When we pray to be heard of men that is all that will hear it. Jesus was not saying that there is never a time that long prayers are appropriate. He prayed in the garden for at least three hours. He was saying that the prayer should be the right length for the occasion – the reason for the prayers often dictates the length.
He also is saying that we are not to pray words without meaning. It is easy for us to repeat the same prayer so often that we lose sight of what we are actually saying and it becomes just a formality. That is the “vain repetition” that Jesus is referring to in his rebuke. Again, there are times it is appropriate to say the same thing over and over in our prayers. Jesus prayed three hours in the garden and he prayed the same thing each hour. Paul repeated his prayer for deliverance from his thorn that Satan had given him. This is heartfelt prayer and is not vain.
There are many prayers recorded in scripture. Some are long and some are short, depending on the occasion. The prayer of dedication by Solomon when the temple was completed is rather lengthy. The prayer of Jesus on the cross when he said: “Father, forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing” is short but meaningful and powerful. When Stephen offered his dying prayer it was just “Lord Jesus, lay not this sin to their charge” and that was it. Paul often prayed in his writings but usually short and to the point.
Prayer is talking with God. It is one of the greatest blessings we have as his children and we are told many times that we are to take advantage of it. He wants us to talk to him and let him know what is in our hearts. O, he knows already but he wants to hear it from our lips. Prayer may be praise, thanksgiving or requests. It may be for ourselves or for others or a combination of all these. It must be from the heart, genuine and it must be offered trusting God to hear and answer.
O God, thank you for the opportunity I have to talk with you. Thank you that I can pour out my heart to you when things are not going well and know you will hear and respond in my best interest. Thank you for allowing me to praise you and thank you for all the wonderful things in my life – even for life itself. Thank you for the forgiveness you have given me in Jesus Christ. Help me pray often, knowing you hear and always do what is best for me. I pray in the name of Jesus.
--Robert
