Devotionals
by Tony Evans
by Tony Evans
Matthew 6:5-8
Prayer, simply put, is communicating with God. It is an essential component to the Christian life. Although prayer is an act of faith that draws us closer to God, many believers struggle with this spiritual discipline because we do not know what prayer is, how it works, or how to do it. Effective praying was a challenge for the disciples as well.
When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He first spent time instructing them how not to pray. Sometimes, before we can really understand how to do something important, we first need to understand how not to do it. Jesus instructs us in verse 5, “And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites.” These people had an improper approach to communicating with God. They prayed to be seen and heard by men; they prayed with wrong motives; and they prayed to appear to be holier than others. As Christians, the way we prevent ourselves from falling victim to improperly praying is by praying regularly, praying sincerely, praying secretly, and praying thoughtfully.
If we desire to develop a stronger prayer life, we must heed the precautions Jesus lays out in Matthew 6: 5-8 and adopt the proper manner of communicating with God. Our prayers should be directed to an audience of one. Prayer should be God-focused and God-centered. The primary goal for our prayers should be to glorify the Lord. Believers who grasp this biblical concept will develop a more effective prayer life.
Getting Started
- Is there a person in your life that you admire because of the way they pray? If yes, Why do you admire their prayer life? If no, What do believe are some key components for developing an effective prayer life?
- How did this week’s sermon impact the way you now view prayer?
Let’s Get Personal
- What are some of the obstacles you often encounter in your personal prayer life?
- Has there ever been a time in your life that you were guilty of praying like those described in Matthew 6:5-8?
- Evans emphasized the importance of praying regularly, sincerely, secretly, and thoughtfully. Which of these areas does your prayer life need to grow the most?
- What are the key components you often incorporate in your private prayer time?
Take the Next Step
- What steps can you take this week to deepen your communication with God?
- Spend time this week seeking God for renewed strength and a fresh desire to be faithful in prayer.
- Want to go deeper? Take a look at the following passages: 1 Thess. 5:17; Rom. 8:26-28; Col. 4:2; Phil. 4:6-7
Renew Your Mind
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
Tony Evans
PrayerJesuspromisesdevotional
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Tony Evans
Dr. Tony Evans is one of the country’s most respected leaders in evangelical circles. As a pastor, teacher, author and speaker, he serves the body of Christ through his unique ability to communicate complex theological truths through simple, yet profound, illustrations.The first African American to graduate with a doctoral degree from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), he served as an associate professor in the Pastoral Ministries Department at DTS in the areas of evangelism, homiletics and black church studies. He continues to serve DTS on the Board of Incorporate Members. Dr. Evans holds the rare honor of serving as chaplain of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks over the last three decades, the longest standing NBA chaplaincy on record. He is also the former chaplain of the Dallas Cowboys.Dr. Evans holds the honor of writing and publishing the first full-Bible commentary and Study Bible by an African American.Through his local church and national ministry, Dr. Evans promotes a kingdom agenda philosophy that teaches God’s comprehensive rule over every sphere of life as demonstrated through the individual, family, church and society.This philosophy connects biblical spirituality with social responsibility. Dr. Evans teaches that the church, not the government, is the best social service delivery system since it is closer to the needs of the people, offers the largest potential volunteer force, has facilities for outreach programs, and provides a moral and spiritual frame of reference for making right choices.At the heart of this vision is the use of church and school partnerships to effect spiritual and social change in communities. Dr. Evans’ church and school outreach philosophy has been attributed as a catalyst for former President George W. Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative, which was his first formal act of office. Dr. Evans seeks to train churches, schools and volunteers in this philosophy, as well as in the functional practicalities, through the National Church Adopt-a-School Initiative which is a ministry underneath the umbrella of The Urban Alternative.BACKGROUNDDr. Evans has served as the senior pastor ofOak Cliff Bible Fellowshipfor over 40 years, witnessing its growth from ten people in 1976 to now over 10,000 congregants with over 100 ministries.Dr. Evans also serves as president ofThe Urban Alternative, a national ministry that seeks to restore hope and transform lives through the proclamation and the application of the Word of God. His daily radio broadcast,The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can be heard on over 1,300 radio outlets throughout the United States and in more than 130 countries. Dr. Evans launched the Tony Evans Training Center in 2017, an online learning platform providing quality seminary-style courses for a fraction of the cost to any person in any place. The goal is to increase Bible literacy not only in lay people but also in those Christian leaders who cannot afford nor find the time for formal ongoing education.Dr. Evans has authored over 100 books, booklets and Bible studies including his legacy work,Oneness Embraced, as well as his vision work,The Kingdom Agenda. Some of his most popular books includeKingdom Man,Kingdom Woman,Prayers for Victory in Spiritual WarfareandThe Power of God’s Names.Dr. Tony Evans is married to Lois, his wife and ministry partner of over 40 years. They are the proud parents of four, grandparents of thirteen and great-grandparents of two.
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