Simply and Honestly
Scripture
“And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?
“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply…”
—Matthew 6:5–8 (The Message)
In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus turns His attention to prayer, getting right to the heart of how we should approach God: don’t make it a performance. He calls out those who turn their prayers into a “theatrical production,” more concerned with what others think than with actually connecting with God. The Greek word for “hypocrite,” which many translations use in this passage, originally referred to stage actors.
I love how Eugene Peterson translates Jesus’s instruction in The Message: “Find a quiet, secluded place… Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.” Prayer isn’t about impressive words or perfect posture; it’s about showing up authentically before your Father. When you stop trying to perform and just are with God, Peterson says, “The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”
“Prayer is not getting things from God. That is a most initial stage; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God: I tell Him what I know He knows in order that I may get to know it as He does.”
— Oswald Chambers¹
That’s exactly what Jesus is protecting here. He dismisses the “prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant,” those who rely on formulas instead of relationship. Why? Because “This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.” Prayer isn’t about manipulating a distant deity; it’s about communing with a loving Father who already knows your heart.
So let go of the pressure to perform. Simply come to your Father today, just as you are, and trust that He hears you, loves you, and delights in hearing your heart.
Reflection
- In what ways are you sometimes tempted to “role-play” or perform in your prayers, rather than being simple and honest before God?
- How does remembering that God is your loving Father who already knows your needs change the way you approach prayer?
- What practical step can you take this week to find a “quiet, secluded place” and just be present with God?
Prayer
Thank God for the invitation to come before Him simply and honestly. Ask Him to free you from any desire to perform or impress. Pray for a deeper trust in Him as your loving Father who knows all your needs.
Footnote
¹ Oswald Chambers, Prayer: A Holy Occupation (Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 1992).