A Daily Devotion for Friday, Feb. 6
- ontrakk
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Matthew 6:5-15
“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 others. Truly I tell you, 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.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Psalm 51-17
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
Sometimes doing something in the presence of others or making sure others know about what we are doing or experiencing makes our actions feel more real. I don’t know what is behind that feeling; maybe it is different for different people. For example, if I have a beautiful moment with God, I find myself wanting to tell someone about it, as if that makes it more real or permanent. But if the experience is between me and God, there may be no reason to share that with others. What if sharing that moment with another can help bring that person closer to God in their own walk? How do I know if my sharing is helpful or only self-serving?
God above, you are always here for me. You have lifted me out of many deep places. May my sharing with others serve you, and serve others. You have already given me everything that I need and I am thankful. Amen
Becky, transforming
Matthew 6:5-15. Psalm 51:17. Along with God
I was always an early riser and cherished that time for devotion reading and writing. If I was lucky, there would also be a beautiful sunrise to photograph and enjoy the beauty of God's creation. I have found, however, that when my schedule changes, doing that routine late afternoon or evening, can also be cherished time to slow down, seek some quiet and become immersed in my reading and writing. It is still a good time, although no sunrise.
Prayer: Gracious God, I know whenever I have the time, you will be there waiting for me. AMEM
Friday, February 6th, 2026
ALONE WITH GOD
(Focus someone who struggles to pray daily
Today’s reading Matthew 6: 5-15
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
This Psalm of David has to be one of the most vulnerable pleas for mercy ,forgiveness and repentance after he was exposed for his affair with Bathsheba. He admits that his sin is Against God and only God and what is evil in God’s sight. In doing this, David gets to the very heart of why God hates sin. The steps that David knew he would have to go through to gain real wisdom within his heart were brutal, but they…
Matthew 6:5-15/Psalm 51-17
It should be obvious that in order to grow closer in relationship to anyone, time must be spent together. The same thing applies to our relationship with God. On those days when my morning devotional time is cut short, rushed or taken away by some “important” task, I regret it. Quiet time with the Lord is most fruitful for me in the morning. With Father, Son and Holy Spirit, there is no pressure to say the right thing or worries about offending someone in the way I pray or the words I choose. Jesus even provided the perfect template for prayer when I am spiritually stuck in the mud of life and at a loss as to…