Three Important Words

What is grabbing your attention lately?

Who is grabbing your attention lately?
How is Jesus grabbing your attention lately?

As I was reading the Bible this week, three words grabbed my attention. Three words. How can three words grab me? How can three words grab you? When was the last time three words grabbed your attention? Maybe today...

Jesus preached, "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matt 6:5-8

The Master Teacher used two words in His language where in English it is translated into three.

"Hotan proseuchomai"
"When you pray"

Re-read Jesus' teaching...

Jesus used those three words three times rather quickly. 

Clearly, Jesus is grabbing our attention.

Let those three words grab you.

What is Jesus saying to you with those three words?
How would you describe your prayer life to a friend? 
Under what circumstances do you typically pray? 
What motivates you to pray? 
What generally keeps you from praying?
 
Read today’s passage again slowly and listen for what invitation God might be extending to you about prayer. What did you hear?

Seeking to dialogue with Jesus more regularly alone, with my family and with Southtown,
Pastor Chris