"Pastor" Prayers

Read

Matthew 6:5–9 (ESV)"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. 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. "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. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..."

What It Is Speaking to Me

I remember the first time I was called "Pastor" by a congregant. In my immaturity, I felt honored. I felt respected. But it didn't take too long before I realized the reality about this church member "honoring" me with the title: I would never be just "David" to them. I would ALWAYS be "Pastor David."

See, just "David" can really know someone. Be a friend, spend time and hang out, joke around, play games with them. "Pastor David" is just a pastor. You greet him at church, you meet with him when something serious happens, you have him "over for dinner" in a formal setting. He may be your pastor, but he certainly will never be a friend. The title "Pastor" is honoring language, but in this person's context it is also distancing language. When I realized that, I felt a lot less honored.

I was reminded of this when I read these verses. When we pray, what do our prayers reveal about us? Not just to those around us when we pray publicly, but far more importantly, what do they say about us to God? When we are alone with Him?

Obviously, unlike me, God is worthy and deserving of every honoring title we can give Him. But can we at the same time ultimately hide behind all the right language, all the right titles, and never share our real selves with Him? We heap empty phrases, quote as much Scripture as we can in our prayers, say all the "right" things in all the right ways, and ultimately avoid the simple truth that yes, He is GOD, but He is also Father. A Father who knows His children, and who desires that His children really know Him.

Perhaps this is why Jesus tells us to begin our prayer with "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." His name is still hallowed, He still reigns in Heaven above all things, but He IS our Father. We don't need to heap empty phrases. We need to share our real selves with Him.

What Is It Saying to You?

What does the language of your prayers say about your relationship with your Father?

What Are We Going to Do About It?

During your next prayer, eliminate all religious jargon or clichés and speak to God in honest, unpolished language.