Prayer’s Basis

Prayer’s Basis
Bro Edward | 10 August 2025 | Matthew 6 : 6 – 9

In Matthew 6:6–9, Jesus teaches that prayer is not about performance or public show, but about a genuine, intimate conversation with God. True prayer is not judged by outward presentation — eloquent words, posture, or length — but by the content of the speech and the heart behind it. God looks deeper, at sincerity, humility, and truth.

The basis of prayer is our relationship with God. We pray because we have intimacy with Him — “Our Father in heaven” — and reverence for His name — “Hallowed be Your name.” We can trust Him completely, because “your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). He is omniscient, He cares, and He is able to provide. Prayer flows from this relationship; it is how we communicate, align our will with His, and depend on Him fully.

The reasoning of why you pray goes beyond simply making requests. We pray to align ourselves with God’s will, to build trust in Him, and to acknowledge that He already knows our needs (Matthew 6:31–33). Prayer is not about informing God but about drawing closer to Him, seeking His kingdom first, and letting Him shape our desires and decisions.

Jesus warns us to avoid vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7–8). Vain means empty, meaningless, or for appearance’s sake. He didn’t forbid all repetition — Jesus Himself prayed three times in Gethsemane using the same words (Matthew 26:39–44) — but He condemned prayer that is mindless, showy, or self-promoting. The difference is purpose: repetition born of deep need and agony is very different from repetition meant to impress.

God sees beyond the surface. As 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” The Pharisees were described as “whitewashed tombs” — beautiful outside but corrupt within (Matthew 23:27). Even Jesus’ own life reflected this truth — Isaiah 53:2 says there was “no beauty that we should desire Him.” Prayer, then, must be genuine, coming from a heart fully surrendered to God’s will.

We see this in Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane — agonising, repeated, yet utterly submissive: “Not as I will, but as You will.” We see it in Hannah’s prayer (1 Samuel 1:10–15), born out of bitterness of soul, grief, and faith. She poured out her heart before the Lord, trusting Him completely. True prayer is heartfelt, faith-filled, and anchored in surrender to God.

Trust in God — He already knows what is in our hearts and what we need (Matthew 6:31–33). Prayer is about drawing near, acknowledging our dependence, and seeking His kingdom first.

Jesus also told a story about two men praying (Luke 18:10–14), showing the stark difference between a prayer of pride and a prayer of humility:

This story reminds us that God honours humility, honesty, and dependence on Him — not self-promotion or comparison to others.

In the end, prayer reveals our relationship with God. It is not about outward performance, but about a heart that seeks intimacy with the Father, reveres His name, trusts His care, and submits to His will.  

And above all, let our prayers echo the heart of Jesus: “Father, not my will, but Yours be done.” For in surrendering our will, we find His perfect peace, His unfailing guidance, and His glorious purpose for our lives.