Welcome to this meditation on the first half of Matthew chapter 6.
I am reading from a paraphrase by Dr.
Tim Jennings and it's called the Remedy.
For those of you who haven't heard me read from his rendition of New Testament Scripture,
The beautiful insight comes particularly from the heart of a doctor who deals in psychology and the remedy that was provided for our dis-ease through the sacrifice of the creator and Redeemer God.
And it's just a very unique perspective hearing it from a clinician's standpoint,
So I enjoy sharing it with you guys as I often read.
I wonder what it is that's on your heart right now.
What it may have been that perhaps you were just casually,
So you thought,
Scrolling through the offerings in your feed.
Or perhaps had an empty spot that needed to be filled.
Maybe you just want something to kick off your day and by me even mentioning it your mind has run down the first five bullet points that you hope to achieve or pray don't become snagged as we run the race of life.
The beautiful thing is that God already knew what was on your heart.
So if in this moment you would like to give him those burdens,
Those empty misses,
Sit with me now.
No,
Don't sit with me,
Sit with God.
Let's welcome him here and begin our meditation.
Heavenly Father,
You are welcome in this place in the solitude between our ears,
The ruckus of our minds.
Please speak your peace.
Be still over the waters of our heart and the tempest that seems to ebb and flow and rise and fall.
Let us walk on water with you.
Let us find joy walking hand in hand with you in the stillness in this moment.
Thank you for joining us in this place.
Please speak to us through your words.
Let each one listening hear specifically what it is that they need to hear from you.
Come away with a gift so they know they sat with God.
We pray in Jesus name amen.
Be sure not to live your life for show,
Acting righteous in order to impress others.
Such behavior is based on selfishness and prevents the benefit that results from living in harmony with your Father in heaven.
So when helping someone in need,
Don't make a show or create an advertisement in order to get more people to adore you as the politicians both in and out of the church do.
I tell you plainly,
They have received their reward for which their selfish hearts crave.
When you help others,
Do it discreetly,
Not seeking to make yourself the center of attention,
But because you were motivated by love,
Then the secret intent of your heart will be in tune with your Father and you will receive the reward that comes from being in unity with Him.
And when you pray,
Don't be like those pretentiously pious spiritual fakers who love to pray in public to get attention for themselves.
I tell you plainly,
They have received the reward their selfish hearts crave,
But when you talk with God,
Go to a private place where you can be genuinely intimate with Him and open up with Him.
Then you will experience the reward that comes from sharing the secrets of your heart with God.
Remember that prayer is a conversation with God as talking to your closest friend,
So don't pray like pagans who recite mantras and repeat memorized prayers over and over,
Or simply do all the talking,
Thinking that if they talk long enough,
They'll get what they want.
Don't be fooled by such gimmicks.
Remember,
You are talking with your Father and He knows what you need and longs to do everything for your eternal good,
Even before you ask Him.
This is an example of how to talk with God.
Our Father in heaven,
Your character is beautiful and holy.
Reveal more.
I need more of you.
Reveal more of yourself to us.
Let your kingdom of love come and your perfect will be done on earth,
Just like it is in heaven.
Provide for us our daily needs and forgive us our wrongs as we forgive those who have harmed us.
Lead us away from temptation and deliver us from evil because yours is the kingdom of love and the power of love and the glory of love forever and ever.
So let it always be.
Amen.
