How many times have we seen people who love to be seen by the crowd to be holy and righteous?” What does Jesus say about these types of people?

Jesus says now pay close attention to what I am about to tell you. Do not perform your alms before men just to be seen of them. You will have no reward from God the Father in Heaven by doing such things. If you want a reward from God, the Father in Heaven, don’t sound a trumpet just before you give alms. This is how a hypocrite behaves in the synagogues and in the streets so they may find glory in the eyes of men and women. They will surely get a reward, but it won’t be from God the Father in Heaven. They may receive glory and praise among other treasures for a short period of time or for a season from those who see and know they give alms.

If you want the rewards that come from God the Father in Heaven when you give alms, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Do your alms in secret, and when God, the Father in Heaven sees you performing alms in secret, he will reward you openly. The rewards of God the Father in Heaven will be much greater than anything a man or woman can offer you. Try it consistently and wait patiently for God the Father in Heaven to send you rewards. It may be that perfect job you have been trying to find for years, and then suddenly, it appears.

How should we pray? Don’t do as the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets so men and women can see them. God, the Father in Heaven, warns: “They will receive their reward,” but it won’t be one from God, the Father in Heaven.

When you pray, go inside a secret chamber or closet and when you have the door closed securely, pray to your Father that is in secret and when the Father sees you praying in secret, he will reward you openly. In other words, you have a much greater chance of God answering the problems you pray about if you do it in secret.

When you pray do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do because they think they will be heard for their much speaking. Don’t be like these people. The Father knows what things you have need of even before you ask him.

Talk to God the Father in heaven by addressing Jesus Christ as if you are talking to your closest friend about the cares and problems of your life. Jesus is mankind’s older brother, and the go between us and the Father. All prayers first go to Jesus Christ, then onto the Father in Heaven.

When you pray be certain you are forgiving all men and women of their trespasses against you, for if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you of your wrongs and sins. You cannot receive the good things of God if you do not forgive others, your prayers will not be answered.

Rules of Fasting:

•Continue bathing and daily grooming chores. You do not want to appear before men and women as if you are in sacrifice. You only want the Father in Heaven to know of this sacrifice. When he sees you sacrificing in secret he will know the sacrifice is solely for him, and openly God, the Father and Heaven will reward you.

Through our prayers and fasting we store treasures with God, the Father in Heaven where moth and rust cannot corrupt and where thieves cannot break through and steal. This is in contrast to continually seeking to buy this and buy that and store this away and store that away. These types of treasures can gather moth and can rust. They can also be stolen by thieves. However, our prayers and fasting in secret are safe with God, the father in Heaven. As the days roll on, he will reward us with those things we ask of him and have need of. It will be done in such a way that no one else can do anything about, and most likely, with much less physical and mental toll upon you. Cast all your cares upon him, for he cares about you!

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© 2007 Connie Limon. All Rights Reserved