God Hears

 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:7-)

Thoughts: Jesus had just finished talking about obeying God's commands from the heart.  Then he speaks of giving- not for show but from the heart.  Now he speaks of praying from the heart.  
    Pagan prayers often used the technique of working themselves into a trance like state through multiple repetitions of the same thing over and over.  The Hindu mantra repetitions are an example of this today.  Jesus reminds his followers that what counts are not the number of repetitions or many words, but praying from the heart.  Our spirit prays with the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus (for his sake) to the Father.
    Psalm 139 says, "Before a word was on my tongue you know it completely O Lord."   God knows our thoughts and our prayers.  We don't have to shout or somehow try to get his attention (like the prophets of Baal - 1 Kings 18).
     So then, if God knows, why do we even need to ask?  God wants us to ask because 1) It lets us know how our prayers are answered; 2) It draws us closer to our Father; 3) God asks us to ask for His glory; 3) Our asking and his beneficence is a part of our worship.  
     Do not fail to ask.  But don't draw attention to it.  How many times God has answered prayer in my life.  Just tonight someone told me that they got a job they had been wanting for months.  They desperately needed it, but hadn't had any offers or leads for a long time.  But after we prayed in our study she received two offers on the same day.  While God can say no, let us never forget that God can also say Yes.

Prayer: Lord, hear my prayer.  Hear my heart felt supplications and my secret confessions.  Hear my loud praise and joy.  Hear my humble thanksgiving.  Hear and respond with more of your presence and love.