Day 8: Matthew 6
CENTRE STAGE
Everyone knew who the religious scholars were. Everyone was made very aware of their 'holiness' and authority of all religious matters. They were happy to show people just how much they prayed and how closely they obeyed the law. They were so 'holy' that they'd even added plenty of their own laws to go along with.
In verses 1-18, Jesus proclaims that this kind of approach isn't the way to please God. God isn't bothered about the show that we can put on, but is interested in the intimate relationship between us and Him. Jesus talks about prayer and fasting here, something he models regularly in the gospels. As Jesus talks about prayer, he shows that this must be done in the quiet place, away from crowds.
I have been through times where I have played up to show off to the crowds, and others where I have hung on to the crowds and only exercised spirituality as part of them as I was distant from God in my personal life. Neither of these is acceptable for a humble life walked in step with God.
When I used to play football, I was always so much better in front of a crowd. I ran harder, encouraged more and had greater confidence. I longed for the praise and the recognition that I'd done well. My ego took over and I was driven by the adulation of people. The sad fact is that I simply didn't have the drive to give it all when no-one was watching.
Similarly, in my twenties I have experienced times when I have found my prayer life really difficult. For many years, I never struggled with prayer. It was relatively easy and I enjoyed sitting down and spending time talking to God. Maybe it's because I knew how rubbish I am without him, so I was fully aware of my need for Him. As I got older, I have found it more difficult to stop and be still at times. I have often found myself restless and unfocused, struggling with the concept of silence. I realise that as I've got older, I surround myself with noise and busyness. That can be TV, music, work, games, anything. Even when I relax, I have to have something going on. I find it hard to even read a book without music or some kind of background noise. Therefore I have found it increasingly difficult to stop and be still.
Without that stillness, I've found that frustration sets in a lot quicker, I get negative or critical a lot quicker, and I live without that sense of peace and calm in my life. Without that stillness, we will not feel refreshed by God as we allow Him to fill us and spend time enjoying His presence. If we're not careful, God becomes something we can talk and sing about, but something that has no regular impact on our personal lives. Without finding that place of stillness, we can lose what it is to know the beauty of God in our lives, and we will become drier and drier.
As I struggled to find this stillness, group prayer meetings seemed to stir something in me. The feeling of people drawing close to God, crying out to Him in worship or lifting requests to Him helped me find my feet and my voice. Those places have often been platforms for me to get myself back into a place of regular prayer. It still ultimately comes down to the same thing; finding that place of stillness and quiet with God.
The key has to be, as Jesus said, to “go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father”.
Today, determine to stop and be still. Not to pray while driving, or cleaning, or performing some task, but to seek God in the stillness. No distractions, no noise, but just you and God. Your mind may drift, but persevere. As many things, it will be a discipline, but a vital one.
We live in a world that is louder and more rushed than ever. The discipline of coping with silence is one that we must strive to be better at. I believe that we need to have the determination to find that place of stillness and have the courage to stay there rather than charging through our days.
"another day...another deller!"
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