Where do you find your identity when what you’ve given your life to goes away? Check out the latest episode of The Journey Podcast on September 5! Searching for Significance: Interview with former MLB player Alex Presley at ronmoore.org/podcasts.

Welcome to a 30-day devotional series on prayer. Let’s spend September learning how to talk with God and better our communication with God. I encourage you to use this devo with your children and pray together as a family.

Matthew 6:5-6
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.

Seizing the opportunity to address the large crowds following him, Jesus went up to the mountainside and sat down. From that position, the greatest preacher who ever lived proclaimed the greatest sermon ever preached. In what some call his “inaugural address,” Jesus delivered an invaluable message to his followers. Among the many subjects he taught that day was how to pray.

Interestingly, Jesus began his instruction on prayer by aiming directly at our motive. The purpose of prayer is not to impress people. Prayer is a personal conversation with God. Jesus desires private and intimate conversations. He said, “Go into your room and shut the door.”  And even when our prayer is in public, our hearts should be focused on a one-on-one with God.

So, take the time to talk with God. Alone. In private. Then, teach and model for your children that talking with God is an intimate conversation with our heavenly Father. Don’t worry about impressing people. Let those listening hear the familiarity of a natural, normal one-on-one with God.

Father, forgive us for being more like the hypocrites on the street corners than we care to admit. Engage us in a one-on-one with you and keep our focus there. Remind us that if we try to please people, we cannot please you. Teach us how to talk with you. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.