Clawson Family,

I am so excited for our quiet time this morning. Let's kick off our morning with an amazing song:

Song:

Scripture :

Matthew 6:5-18 New Living Translation

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,    may your name be kept holy.10 May your Kingdom come soon.May your will be done on earth,    as it is in heaven.11 Give us today the food we need,[a]12 and forgive us our sins,    as we have forgiven those who sin against us.13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,[b]    but rescue us from the evil one.[c]

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair[d] and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Journal:

Obviously a huge theme of this passage is the imporance of why you are praying. If you are praying for man, or for man to look at you and see how holy you are that is the only reward you will get. Jesus says go in a private place where you can be alone with God in prayer. Write about why you feel that is important, and if you have seen this abused or even have abused it in the past.

Training:

For your training today I want to encourage you to take this same logic to prayer and implement it into the rest of your life. Why do you do what you do. For people or for God. if you do things for people, just realize that is the only reward you will get, but when you live your life to please God there are rewards in this life and in the life to come. Have a wonderful day.

Pastor Josh