And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I t ell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:5-8
Prayer is defined as a devout supplication or thanksgiving to God. Awareness of the truth of our reality and the spirit within brings acknowledgement of God. Prayer becomes quiet contemplation of this inner glory. It is like spending quality time with someone special. The act in itself brings healing, comfort and unforeseen rewards. Abandon the incoherent babbling and the ostentatious seemingly devout rituals. You are taking time out from the rush hour world around you in order to rejuvenate. Just as the body needs sleep the spirit needs a means of revitalising itself and through meditation we realise that it is the spirit that sustains and support us through tough times. We must therefore make its upkeep our priority.
Prayer is for communicating and experiencing the truth within us. Our whole aim is to establish and discover the truth. We should speak the truth from the bottom of our hearts. When our hearts are truly open and receptive to God we speak the truth. When we are in touch with our inner being and in tune with God’s spirit we speak the truth.
When we are in touch with:-
- the light that burns within us
- the light that is the truth
- the light that gives us everlasting life
Then and only then are we able to speak the truth.
Fasting
When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but to your father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-18
Fasting is a means of denying the physical flesh and bringing your consciousness to the spiritual. It’s a way of disciplining ourselves to look beyond the needs and partial reality dictated by the physical body. It’s a very personal journey that no one but you can make.
