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Bible Reading Plan

Reading Plan: Matthew 6:7-15

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
 as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

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Daily Devotional: Be Clear, Not Clever

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:7-8

When my kids were teenagers, they experimented with clever ways to get mom and dad to say yes. They’d go to a friend’s house after school, call to see if they could stick around for dinner, and then just before it was time to get picked up, they’d ask to do a sleepover. We knew they had this in mind all along, but we’d play along and wait it out until after dark. Our sons figured we were tired and more likely to give in at the end of a long day. Sometimes they used this “wear them down” approach. Other times they’d make a lengthy verbal pitch for new shoes, late night Taco Bell, or the latest video game. They even made a slideshow presentation one time! Clever, right?

I don’t slight my kids for finding ways to get mom and dad’s attention. My wife and I did the same thing to our parents. But when I read Jesus’ warning about prayer in Matthew 6:7-8, I recognized something significant. How often do I experiment with clever ways to get my heavenly Father’s attention instead of simply being clear?

The truth is, I ramble when I pray more often than I want to or realize. I do it because I don’t know what I want to say and I’m looking for the right words. I keep talking so I sound more intelligent, spiritual, or eloquent. There are lots of underlying reasons why I do it. Maybe wordy prayers will persuade my heavenly Father? Maybe my lobbying will wear Him down? Maybe He’ll be more impressed if I say more? Honestly, I babble before God and others because deep down I believe that being clever is better than being clear. Perhaps you do as well. The Sermon on the Mount indicates I’m not the only one.

I invite you to join me today in choosing to be clear, not clever, as you pray. God isn’t swayed by our shrewdness; He already knows what we need and how He’ll respond. People aren’t eavesdropping on our conversations with the heavenly Father hoping to hear something shareable for social media. Simple. Succinct. Still. God longs for us to bring our hearts, not all the words we know, to Him in prayer. Instead of being clever, let’s practice being clear when we pray and see how God moves.

Next Steps

Here are a handful of prompts to experiment with as you pray:

• Heavenly Father, thank you for being… [holy, loving, just, faithful, good, etc.].
• God, I don’t know what I need, but You do. [Be quiet and just listen.]
• Lord, please forgive me for… [name a specific wrong that comes to mind].
• Jesus, teach me to pray. [Say the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.]

With practice, you can set aside clever scheming and start speaking clearly with God, trusting that He knows your every need.