We want to turn to God and pray to Him with confidence and with the knowledge that He hears us.
Let’s go back to Matt6:7 ‘Do not use meaningless repetition as the gentiles do.’ The reference verse for this statement is 1Kings18:25-29. But to understand the full picture, we need to read 1Kings18:1-38. Jesus spoke to the crowd using examples and references from the Old Testament to ensure they understood His meaning.
In verse 1, God spoke to prophet Elijah and told him it’s time to go to King Ahab and present himself to him. God planned to let it rain again. Now keep in mind, it hadn’t rained in 3 years. The famine was severe in the land. In verse 19 we see that Elija told Ahab to gather all the Israelite’s as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah. And in front of everybody, Elijah challenged the other prophets. They will offer to their respective gods without fire, and the God that answer the offering by fire, that is the true God. (vs 23-24) And everyone there agreed to this challenge. (vs29) Now this is what Jesus referred to in Matt6:7 when He said, don’t put up a show to impress the people around you when you pray, but rather know who God is and ask the Father in My name and believe He will do it for you. For the Baal and Asherah prophets ‘raved dramatically’ and nothing happened. Elijah went further and asked for the offering to be drenched with water. The same water that was precious in the current climate state – 3 times. (vs34-36) And then he prayed to God with confidence, knowing that his relationship with God is of such that God will answer his prayer. Knowing that God told him to do this. (vs37) And God brought fire from heaven and consumed not only the offering, but also ‘the wood, and even the stones and the dust; it also licked up the water in the trench.’ (vs38)
Now that is praying with Confidence!
In this scenario, the gentile prophets has put on quite a show, but the result was fruitless.
He wants to have a relationship with you, get to know you and wants you to get to know Him. So that when He speaks to you, you would recognize His voice (Jhn10:3-4) You will do as He spoken and He will be there for you. When you step out in faith – He will meet you in power. (Matt17:20)