Jesus said, “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”
Matthew 6:5-6
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his followers about prayer. He tells them not to imitate hypocrites who pray so that they will be noticed by people, but rather to pray so that they will be noticed by their heavenly Father. Then their heavenly Father will repay them or reward them.
There are great rewards to prayer that God gives us:
Peace the world cannot give
An overwhelming experience of God’s love
Knowing God is present
A clear purpose for life
Wisdom for living
Power and courage to do what is right even when it is difficult
To receive these rewards, we need staying power. They do not come automatically — they come over time.
Take a moment to think of the rewards of prayer. Which one do you need the most? Pray for perseverance in prayer so that you will receive that reward.