Wednesday 01 March – Ash Wednesday
Matthew 6:1-6
1 “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
How many people do we encounter daily, and rarely have a quiet, honest and heart-felt conversation? How many of these people are with us everyday? They are our co-workers, customers, and neighbors. God is with us everyday, 24 hours a day! He wants to have a closer relationship with us, and this happens when we pray.
When we pray today, let’s make an effort to be as honest, and “soul-bearing” as possible. Remember, God already knows us for whom we really are; only by knowing this ourselves can we be even closer to God.