Our Glory or His?
God isn’t a big fan of humans doing things for our own glory. In fact, look at any behavior where the goal is to draw attention away from God and to ourselves. You can bet that God is frowning upon it. Focusing on God’s glory (more Him, and less us) is a sign of Christian maturity.
The Jewish Pharisees were known for praying in public as a show of their self-righteousness. They were seeking their own glory and Jesus Christ saw right through it.
But let us not think we are immune from such actions. Us mere humans are bent upon seeking the approval of other people. We want to look better than we are. We want to appear like we have it all together. We want to come across as more spiritual or holy than we are. God knows our hearts. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Pray in Private
And so, this installment of “2 Minutes to Christian Maturity” is about private prayer. Let’s read from Matthew 6:6, “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.”
So God says we should pray in private. Does this mean public prayers are not heard? Of course they are! God is recommending private prayer so we aren’t tempted to pray with the wrong motivation (self glory).
The most effective prayers are those when we come humbly before our God, lay ourselves bare before Him, repent of our sins, and ask for His grace and forgiveness. When was the last time you prayed like that in public? God knows that praying in private is the best place to have “quality time”.
When I started caring more about what God thinks of me than what other people think of me, it evolved into a genuine act of worship instead of trying to “look Christian”.
But when it comes to Christian maturity, God knows best. If given the choice, private prayer, free of distractions, is preferred. Take 2 minutes, and find a secluded spot where you can connect in prayer with our Holy God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Giver of life, the One who knows what we need even before we ask.
Can we ask you to do us a favor?
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About R. Brad White
Hi there, This is a great post. I’m following you on Twitter, and I agree with all of what you’re saying here. Giving Glory To God is most definitely a sign of Christian Maturity, and we should always humble ourselves before God and even others in many circumstances. “Humble yourself and you’ll be exalted. Exalt yourself and you’ll be humbled” … trust me, with my past, I know its NOT a good thing to be humbled by God. Its much better to “do your part” and humble yourself before Him. Thanks for this post, got me thinking. Please check out our God driven online magazine in the link with my comment here
God bless Brother, Curt Bizelli
Good Post! Highly agree on prayer should be 1 on 1 with God, not a show. God is interested on our hearts and not our words anyway!
Interesting, how Jesus did so much for us, but we’re not willing to give so little to Him… 
Love you site! Keeping up the good work! Blessings! Jon
I totally agree with this. I also find it difficult to pray in a noisy restaurant, but I guess you’re right…I need to focus on pleasing the heart of God, not man.
The point about praying in public glorifying oneself is well taken. I have seen many narcissistic evangelist preachers glorifying in the centre of attention when they perform, especially when they descend into “speaking in tongues”. And on another issue. Personally, I have a great respect for Judaism and the Jewish Nation. Once I heard an evangelist preaching that the Jews have had 2000 years of persecution because they have not accepted Jesus. The time has come when we should stop demonizing them at all, IMO. There was a touch of that in your comments above (eg all pharisees are Jewish, why use the word “Jewish” at all?) But your main point of silence and aloneness for prayer is absolutely correct.