praying effectively: Practice Justice (Matt.23:23-24)

(Matthew 23:23-24)  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!"

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we should tithe with the right motives (23:23)

- that we should practice justice (23:23)

- that we should practice mercy (23:23)

- that we should practice faithfulness (23:23)

- that we should not pick and choose which commandments to follow and which ones to ignore (23:23-24)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being such a loving Lord and Savior.  You deserve our very best efforts!  Thank You for being just, merciful and faithful.  Help us to be more like You.  Thank You for everything You have done for us and given to us - You are exceedingly generous.  Help us to be more like You!!!  

Your laws and Your will are perfect, and wholly beneficial.  Give us understanding, and help us to wholly trust in You, so that we will desire to be obedient to every aspect of Your commandments.  Change us from the inside out, so that everything we do is done with the right motive, in Your strength and in Your love.  Amen.