When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have received their reward. Matthew 6:5 WEBIt was a hot summer day in the South and I was painting a house for an elderly lady, when she invited me in to have lunch with her. As we sat down at the table, I removed my hat and she said a blessing over the food before we ate. I try to always say a blessing over my food too, but this one I will always remember.
She folded her hands, her eyes closed, her voice changed, and she began to speak in a 1700s, ancient english dialect. She prayed words that I had only read in Shakespeare, or in the King James Bible. I felt as if we were on the Mount of Transfiguration as she became a completely different person right in front of me, uttering long beautiful words that I barely understood. Even her southern accent seemed to take on an old English overtone and her pronunciation changed. I kept watching to see if she would levitate up from her chair.
After what seemed like several minutes, her prayer ended and she became herself again. I felt like I had just seen something from the movie "The Exorcist" and I clenched my knife a little tighter for the rest of the meal. Really, she was just a southern belle that had learned religion by rote, and she prayed in King James english. You used to see a lot of that here.
When you pray, be yourself. Do not make God scratch His head and say 'Well he looks like Dion, but he sounds like Shakespeare? Dion is that you? What happened?' God would understand, but He has not heard that dialect in a while.
Hypocrite means actor, someone impersonating someone else. God made you to be who you are. When you speak to Him, be your everyday self and do not be ashamed to pray because you do not have the fancy words that you have heard others use. They may be faking it in order to impress you.
You are who He made you to be and He loves you. When you pretend to be 'holier than thou' you are buying into a lie that you are not good enough, that God could not love the 'real' you, when nothing could be further from the truth. God has loved you for your entire life, through the ups and the downs. He understands, and He still loves you.
God knows who we are inside, sees us run to the bathroom, and watches us in traffic, so don't think that you will flatter Him with some pretty words. God is the Awesome, Omnipresent, Unchangeable, Loving, Merciful, and Patient, Creator of the Universe and He made you. So be yourself, especially in prayer. The superficial is everywhere, while the real thing is rare and beautiful.
Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me just as I am. You made me and I am now here before You in prayer. It's me Lord. I just want You to know that I am thinking of You today and that I want more of You in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.> You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <
Amen
God thank you for all you do. Amen
Amen!!
Amen
Thank you for the reminder that as flawed as we are (or think we are), Our Lord loves us and wants to hear from us as we are.
He does indeed, brother <3!
"You are fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139: 14. I looked this verse up this morning to use it in another post on FB. Low self esteem is a regular fare for all of us...But in particular those of us who have flaws which are in the "open" for all to see. In that post, I pondered how important it is to receive encouragement from others that point out our qualities and talents. We can't get very far without it, for we stall in self-recrimination and doubt. It is then, we find if we "fake" behaviors which seem to "impress" others, maybe we will be liked, accepted, and we can be who are meant to be. This is a path I was on for a very, very long time. But like your southern lady friend, this "acting" did serve me well, when I did it to myself. Though I was not authentic to who God had created me to be....Lo' and behold, God was there in its midst! Tho' I took a wrong turn in Albuerque, God went there, too! And has, with my cooperation and assistance from those He put in my pathway, brought me closer to the place He wanted me to be along! And now I realize, this was His plan all along! He knew I needed this "detour" to heal an additional wound within me! And this is what He does with all His creation...It wasn't what I would have chosen, but it is what I needed. What helped bring me to greater healing was a little phrase I say daily..not always "formally", but within the confines of my heart is always present: "Your Will, O Lord, not mine be done this day, and always." Thank you, Pastor Dion, for this valuable lesson! Have a great day! :)
Thank you for sharing.
Amen, Beverly, we are all a work in progress!
Amen. He knows me better than I know myself, so I should always be myself when I speak to Him.
Truly and succinctly said, Carol :)!
Good Morning Breathren! This is quit interesting! Who what else do we have to stand on with, to be a guide to becoming our true selfves?? Hum
Thank you for reminding us to be who He designed us to be!
Thanks to the Lord for He created us,Amen.
LOVE it!!!! Especially this part:
"When you pretend to be 'holier than thou' you are buying into a lie that you are not good enough, that God could not love the 'real' you, when nothing could be further from the truth. God has loved you for your entire life, through the ups and the downs. He understands, and He still loves you."
Glory to God!!!!!
Amen Thank you, Lord, that I don't have to be someone else in when I am praying to you. You accept me just as I am. Thanks, pastor Dion for this message and reminder.
Amen! Pastors prayer, Heavenly Father I thank you for loving me just as I am. You made me and I am now here before you in prayer. It's me Lord. I just want you to know that I am thinking of you today and that I want more of you in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen!!
Amen Lord.
Amen
Amen. <3
Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me just as I am. You made me and I am now here before You in prayer. It's me Lord. I just want You to know that I am thinking of You today and that I want more of You in my life, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. <3
Pastor Dion thank you for todays devotion. :-)
Praise God! Thanks Pastor Todd! Very helpful! Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me just as I am. You made me and I am now here before You in prayer. It's me Lord. I just want You to know that I am thinking of You today and that I want more of You in my life, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!
I loved it all ....the supernatural is everywhere while the real th thing is rare & beautiful....sooo true! Isn't He b e a u t I f u l...mighty God...Isn't He. Bless You Lord! Can't see in these earthly eyes how beautiful..definitely need the new body to take in all Your beauty in completely. Thank You Lord for blessing me to see all that I have seen of You on this earth..and may my eyes stay glued to looking for and at You. Amen
Pastor Dion. I have been struggling with this for a long time. I feel inadequate when I pray out loud. I feel I don't have the right words or phrases that many Christians use. I find the repetitive use of the Lords name that some people use, maybe several times in a sentence, quite off putting.I believe the Lord knows who you are and who He is without a constant reminder.So in the future I will pray in my own way, simply and to the point and I'll feel much better about it. Thank you for your inspiring words.Have a great weekend.
Amen♡