Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue

Did you know that prayer is a dialogue with Heaven; not a monologue? Prayer is meant to establish and maintain an intimate relationship, and accountability between each individual and YHWH. When we read Y’shua’s teachings in context, we can see that they amply reveal this fact! His teachings ALL stand as the demarcation between a true relationship with YHWH, as opposed to a “religion” about Him. Take, for example, this awesome passage where he explains “how to pray”…

Matthew 6: 5. And whenever you pray you should not be like the hypocrites that love to stand in the assemblies and on the corners of the marketplaces to pray that they be visible to the sons of men. And truly I say to you that they have received their reward.

6. But when you pray enter your inner room and close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret[1] and your Father who sees in secret He will reward you in open[2]. 7. And when you pray, you should not be chatterers like the pagans, for they hope that by many words they will be heard. 8. Therefore, do not imitate them for your Father knows what need you have before you ask Him.

9. Therefore, you pray like this: Our Father in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. 10. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done. As in heaven so on earth.[3] 11 Give us the bread of our need this day. 12. And forgive us our offenses as we also have forgiven those who have offended us. 13. And not bring us into trial,[4] but deliver us from the evil one, for Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. (AENT)

NOTES:

[1] Psalm 91

[2] The Aramaic word for “open” is b’gelya, which means “to reveal” or “revelation”. Y’shua resided in the Galilee which literally means the “land of revelation”; he is the revealed light to the nations (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 8:23-9:2).

[3] Heavens always come before the earth in terms of the creation order, importance and having heaven’s laws rule on earth (Job 38:31-33).

[4] YHWH does not lead His people into “temptation”, but He does test and proves them. (Deut. 13:3; Job 1:7-12; James 1:14.)

In other words, it’s all about doing YHWH’s Will and pleasing HIM!

How can we do that?

Well, first, we must do an inventory of ourselves to make sure we are being the holy/set apart people He wants us to be – and repent, if we are not. This means not only loving Him with all our heart, being and resources (Deuteronomy 6:5) which means we should WANT to do His Will; but we must also be obedient to His Torah commands.

For instance, if we refuse to keep His commanded Seventh Day Sabbath or His mo’edim (Appointed Times), and are constantly shoveling “unclean” meats into our mouths, then exactly whom are we worshiping? Certainly not the One we think we’re praying to!

Next, we must make sure that our prayer will be geared toward HIS will in the matter for which we are praying. We can’t expect Him to, for instance, magically fix our broken marriages or financial situations, or to take away our drug or alcohol habit, or cause us to lose the extra 200 pounds we’ve gained over the years – UNLESS and UNTIL WE actively decide to make a change in our OWN habits.

WE have to be willing to start lining up our will with His! WE have to be willing to sit down and admit that WE didn’t handle our life’s affairs according to His Word, or that we weren’t good stewards of our money. We have to be willing to admit that we have anger or relationship issues; or that we have an over-eating, drug or alcohol problem. Recognizing and admitting these things is the first step toward change!

Most of all, we MUST remember that YHWH doesn’t even hear the prayers of those who refuse to obey His Torah:

Proverbs 28:9 If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination. (CJB)

1 Corinthians 6:19 Or don't you know that your body is a temple for the Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside you, whom you received from God? The fact is, you don't belong to yourselves; 20 for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify God. (CJB)

1 Corinthians 3:12 Some will use gold, silver or precious stones in building on this foundation; while others will use wood, grass or straw. 13 But each one's work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire - the fire will test the quality of each one's work.

14 If the work someone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward; 15 if it is burned up, he will have to bear the loss: he will still escape with his life, but it will be like escaping through a fire. 16 Don't you know that you people are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 So if anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you yourselves are that temple. (CJB)