How To Get God's Ear!
"And when you pray, you shall not be
like the hypocrites. . . . [or] use vain
repetitions as the heathen do."
Matthew 6: 5
Elijah and the pagan prophets had a
powerful encounter
on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). The true deity, the God
of Israel or Baal, would prove himself by sending fire to
consume a sacrifice.
The pagan prophets spent the entire day calling on Baal,
to no avail. They shouted, danced, and cut themselves,
all for the purpose of getting their god’s attention, and
he never responded.
Pagan worshipers spent much of their time seeking
to gain the attention of their deity in order to receive
his favor and blessing. Some of this mentality had
apparently worked its way into Jewish religious life.
Jesus warned His audiences against praying like pagans:
make public spectacles, babbling the same words over and
over, trying to impress God and gain favor (Matthew 6:5-7).
Jesus said, “Do not be like them” (Matthew 6:8). Instead, pray
to God as you would talk to a father: “Our Father in heaven”
(Matthew 6:9).
We get God’s ear as His child when we come
to Him in the Name of His Son, not because
we pray long and loud prayers.
"All that needs to be spoken or
written about prayer is in the Bible."
E. F. Hallock