“When You Pray”

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

“And 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.

Matthew 6:1-7

How would you write a devotional is God were your only audience? How would your writing be different?

New writers are often advised to visualize one person they are writing to as a way of staying focused. When you write, try to keep readers in mind because you want to say something they will want to read and that will keep them on their spiritual journey.

David’s psalms are used for comfort and encouragement. Just remember, the only audience he had in mind was God.

Whether our “deeds,” mentioned in Matthew 6 are works of art or acts of service, we should keep in mind that they’re really between us and God. Whether or not anyone else sees does not matter. He is our audience.

Serve for an audience of one.

Our Daily Bread – January 6, 2014