"Hollow Prayers"

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Matthew 6:7

Jesus talked a lot about prayer and gave many examples of prayers. He told us which prayers were pleasing to the Father, and which prayers He heard. Jesus gave a parable of two men praying in the temple- one was a Pharisee and the other was a publican. Jesus told what each of these men prayed. Of the two, He let us know which prayer was acceptable and which was not.

The publican's prayer was humble, the Pharisee's was prideful. The Pharisee's was self righteous, the publican knew he was a sinner. The publican prayed a prayer of "substance", the Pharisee prayed a "hollow" prayer- empty. The Pharisee's prayer consisted of nothing but empty words- it sounded good on the outside but there was nothing on the inside. Have you ever had a piece of "hollow" chocolate? The outside looks firm but when you bite into it it's empty in the middle, not solid, the chocolate is just a shell. If you buy a piece of chocolate that's "solid", then that means it's a solid piece- there is chocolate on the outside and inside. (That's how these two men's prayers were.)

Our prayers are either "solid" or "hollow". They either have substance to them or they are empty. Praying hollow prayers means that they are just words we are saying to God but our hearts are not in them or behind what we are saying. We are saying words that "sound good" but aren't truly meant. We may ask God to "change us" in prayer, but we don't really mean it. We may ask Him to "make us more like Him" but don't really want Him to do so. We may ask Him to take us to a new level, but we don't really want to leave the comfort of the level we are on. We may ask Him for forgiveness but aren't truly sorry to the point of turning from what we are doing- we are just praying to "soothe" our conscience.

In our prayers we must check ourselves and be aware of what type of prayers we are offering to God. Are they sincere, heart felt and meant from our hearts? Or are they "lip service"- said for the benefit of others, said to "impress" God, said to make us feel good? God does hear our prayers and answers them, but they have to be the "right" kind of prayers-- solid ones.

Have a great day. God doesn't hear "our much speaking" if they are "hollow" words.